Gassnova congratulates Bellona on its first 25 years serving the environment!
Gassnova’s chief executive, Bjørn-Erik Haugan, wants to remind us all that the work being done in Norway on CCS (carbon capture and storage) is on the right track, and that we are rushing ahead, both patiently and impatiently, to achieve a full-scale facility. Haugan was in attendance at Bellona’s international conference to commemorate the organisation’s anniversary -”The future is carbon negative” - held in Oslo on 16 June 2011. Bjørn-Erik Haugan praised Bellona for its work for the environment, and offered congratulations on the organisation’s 25th anniversary. Bellona’s Frederic Hauge kicked off the anniversary celebration. On the topic of CCS, he expressed impatience at what he believes is the slow pace at which Norway is proceeding towards opening a full-scale facility aimed at reducing CO2 emissions.
Bellona is an advisor to the EU in its work on CCS. Gassnova regularly participates in their Shadow Group meetings, which are meetings Bellona holds in Oslo to maintain an open dialogue within the Norwegian community as regards what is happening within the EU.
In response to Bellona’s impatience as regards realising full-scale CCS in Norway, Bjørn-Erik Haugan believes it is important to agree on a clear goal for an early full-scale facility, but that we must hurry forward while maintaining respect for the task and responsibility in the use of the society’s resources to achieve this goal.
Delivering the first facilities will be technically and financially challenging. Who will rise to the challenge? Norway is one of very few countries in the world today with a sound economy and the willingness to do this, exemplified by Norway’s decision to go ahead with investments for TCM (Technology Centre Mongstad). Norway is making an important international contribution in this area; a contribution which, over the long term, will help ensure that we have a viable planet to live on.
A full-scale facility at Mongstad is being planned in a cooperative effort by Gassnova and Statoil. The timeline for Mongstad full-scale CCS has been adjusted a bit, and we will utilise the time to study more potential health and environmental challenges, as well as allow more technologies to be qualified.
Haugan reminds us that development of technology is a marathon where the course leads us through industrial-scale demonstration. TCM, which is currently under construction and 75% complete, is one of the most important large-scale contributions towards facilitating such a demonstration. TCM start-up will be in early 2012, and the project will test various types of carbon capture methods for different types of exhaust gases. Other important goals include developing suppliers, reducing the risk of health and environmental challenges and developing energy-efficient and cost-effective solutions.
With these two projects, Norway has taken on a significant ambition. In Gassnova, we take our responsibility as Norway’s CCS enterprise very seriously. We will follow up and encourage efforts to ensure that this development proceeds in accordance with the Government’s and Parliament’s resolutions. Development of more technologies and longer industrial experience will result in reduced costs and risks in subsequent facilities. We in Gassnova are proud to be a part of this important work for the climate.
In the beginning, we will need considerable public funding, in accordance with Norway’s practices, because CCS is not yet commercially viable under normal terms. The industrial solutions must be developed, and international legal and financial frameworks must be put in place for climate and environmental costs. If the world ignores the climate problem, it will turn out to be very costly indeed over the long term.
Bjørn-Erik Haugan concludes by wishing Bellona the best of luck on its next 25 years as promoter of a carbon-negative future.