Equinor and Microsoft Partner on Carbon Capture and Value Chain Project

Equinor signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Microsoft to support the Northern Lights carbon capture and storage (CCS) project as a technology partner. Microsoft will work to enable the transportation and storage of captured CO₂ on the project, while Equinor develops the project with Shell and Total as equal partners.

As part of the MoU, Equinor and Microsoft have agreed to the following:

• Explore a technology collaboration to integrate Microsoft’s digital expertise into the Northern Lights project.
• Microsoft will explore the use of Northern Lights' CO₂ transport and storage facility as part of Microsoft’s portfolio of carbon capture, transportation, and storage projects.
• Explore ways for Microsoft to invest in the effective development of Northern Lights.
• Explore and establish advocacy of policies that help accelerate the contribution CCS can make to meeting Europe’s climate goals.

The MoU with Mircosoft follows a conditional investment decision in May that Equinor, Shell and Total made. Pending regulatory approval, the project partners will form a joint venture, responsible for creating an open-source, ship-based carbon transport and storage network, and developing business models to store captured CO₂ in Europe. Final investment decision, subject to the Norwegian approval, is expected late 2020 with startup expected in 1H 2024.

Additional MoU’s have been signed with eight European in different industries including: Air Liquide, Arcelor Mittal, Ervia, Fortum Oyj, HeidelbergCement AG, Preem, Stockholm Exergi and ETH Zürich.

These MoU’s also target solutions for CO₂ delivery, transport and storage of CO₂, including logistics, CO₂ specifications and roadmaps towards potential startups

Equinor signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Microsoft to support the Northern Lights carbon capture and storage (CCS) project as a technology partner. Microsoft will work to enable the transportation and storage of captured CO₂ on the project, while Equinor develops the project with Shell and Total as equal partners.

As part of the MoU, Equinor and Microsoft have agreed to the following:

• Explore a technology collaboration to integrate Microsoft’s digital expertise into the Northern Lights project.
• Microsoft will explore the use of Northern Lights' CO₂ transport and storage facility as part of Microsoft’s portfolio of carbon capture, transportation, and storage projects.
• Explore ways for Microsoft to invest in the effective development of Northern Lights.
• Explore and establish advocacy of policies that help accelerate the contribution CCS can make to meeting Europe’s climate goals.

The MoU with Mircosoft follows a conditional investment decision in May that Equinor, Shell and Total made. Pending regulatory approval, the project partners will form a joint venture, responsible for creating an open-source, ship-based carbon transport and storage network, and developing business models to store captured CO₂ in Europe. Final investment decision, subject to the Norwegian approval, is expected late 2020 with startup expected in 1H 2024.

Additional MoU’s have been signed with eight European in different industries including: Air Liquide, Arcelor Mittal, Ervia, Fortum Oyj, HeidelbergCement AG, Preem, Stockholm Exergi and ETH Zürich.

These MoU’s also target solutions for CO₂ delivery, transport and storage of CO₂, including logistics, CO₂ specifications and roadmaps towards potential startups.

NORTHERN LIGHTS Investment decision for transport and storage of CO2:

• The Northern Lights project is part of the Norwegian full-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) project “Langskip (Longship),” supported by the Norwegian government. The project initially includes capture of CO₂ from Norwegian industrial capture sources, comprising of transportation, receipt and permanent storage of CO₂ in a reservoir in the northern North Sea.
• Initially, Northern Lights includes capacity to transport, inject and store up to 1.5 million tonnes of CO₂ per year. Once the CO₂ is captured onshore, it will be transported by ships, injected and permanently stored 2,600 m below the seabed of the North Sea.
• Facility start up is expected in 2024.
• The CO₂ receiving terminal will be located at the premises of Naturgassparken industrial area in the municipality of Øygarden in Western Norway. 
• The plant will be operated from Equinor’s facilities at the Sture terminal in Øygarden.
• Exploitation licence EL001 "Aurora" was awarded in January 2019.
• The geological storage complex is located 2,600 mbelow the seabed.
• In March 2020, the Eos confirmation well was successfully drilled completed.