Baker Hughes to assist with Norwegian CO2 capture plans

US services firm Baker Hughes and Norway's Horisont Energi announced on March 23 they had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on developing and integrating technologies for the Polaris offshore CO₂ storage facility in the Norwegian Barents Sea.

Polaris, led by Horisont, is part of the Barents Blue project, expected to be the first carbon-neutral facility to produce so-called blue ammonia. Ammonia is classified as blue when it is produced from natural gas feedstock but CO₂ released in the process is captured and stored. Horisont envisions ammonia as a potential emission-free fuel for shipowners working to lessen their environmental footprint.

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The MoU relates to preliminary work on ways to minimise the carbon footprint, cost and delivery time of carbon capture, transport and storage at the facility.

“The global carbon technology market is emerging for carbon storage and utilisation,” Horisont Energi CEO Bjorgulf Haukelidsæter Eidesen said. “With Baker Hughes, we will scale solutions across the carbon value chain to accelerate the decarbonisation of the energy industry.”

All told, the companies involved estimate the Polaris project will store over 100mn metric tons of CO₂, which is equivalent to twice what Norway emits in greenhouse gases each year. Now at the concept phase, construction of the Barents Sea facility could begin as soon as the second half of next year.