Released August 28, 2023 | GALWAY, IRELAND
en
Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--The largest planned carbon capture and storage (CCS) project in the Netherlands will go ahead following a ruling by the country's highest court.
The Council of State has given the green light to the Porthos initiative at the Port of Rotterdam, the first major CO2 transport and storage project in the country, overruling objections from environmental groups. The legal challenge has pushed back commissioning the project from 2024 to 2026, but the positive ruling clears the way for a final investment decision by the leading partners, Shell Plc (NYSE:SHEL) (London, England), Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) (Irving, Texas), Air Liquide (Paris) and Air Products and Chemicals Incorporated (NYSE:APD) (Allentown, Pennsylvania).
Porthos, which stands for Port of Rotterdam CO2 Transportation Hub and Offshore Storage, aims to reduce emissions from the port's industries. Rotterdam Port is the largest in Europe, home to Europe's largest refining complex and accounts for approximately 16% of the total CO2 emissions in the Netherlands. The project aims to store roughly 2.5 million tonnes of CO2 per year. Emissions from the developers' local activities will be captured and transported through an offshore pipeline to a platform in the North Sea, approximately 20 kilometers off the coast. From this platform, the CO2 will be pumped into an empty gas field more than 3 kilometers beneath the North Sea. Industrial Info is tracking 11 projects associated with Porthos worth almost US$1 billion. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Project Database can click here for the reports.
Commenting on the decision, the Porthos groups stated: "The first major CO2 transport and storage project in the Netherlands can go ahead now that the Council of State has ruled positively on the ecological assessment of the Porthos project. It concluded that the ecological study showed that Porthos's nitrogen deposition does not have a significant impact on nearby natural areas. The final investment decision is currently being prepared by Porthos. The aim is to start construction in early 2024. Storing CO2 in empty gas fields beneath the North Sea seabed will allow large amounts of CO2 to be kept out of the atmosphere at relatively low cost in the short term. Thanks to Porthos, 2.5 million tonnes of CO2 will be captured and permanently stored annually. Construction of the Porthos system will take about two years. Porthos is expected to be operational from 2026."
Port of Rotterdam Authority welcomed the decision: "The incorporation plan and environmental permits for the so-called Porthos project remain in place. This means that the Porthos project may go ahead."
The Dutch government is heavily invested in the success of the Porthos project as it forms a key pillar for its CO2 reduction policy and to which it has committed significant funding support. It aims to reduce emissions by 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. In 2021, it promised roughly 2 billion euro ($2.4 billion) in financial support to accelerate its leading projects, including Porthos. For additional information, see May 18, 2021, article--Netherlands Pledges $2.4 Billion for Carbon Capture Projects.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).
The Council of State has given the green light to the Porthos initiative at the Port of Rotterdam, the first major CO2 transport and storage project in the country, overruling objections from environmental groups. The legal challenge has pushed back commissioning the project from 2024 to 2026, but the positive ruling clears the way for a final investment decision by the leading partners, Shell Plc (NYSE:SHEL) (London, England), Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) (Irving, Texas), Air Liquide (Paris) and Air Products and Chemicals Incorporated (NYSE:APD) (Allentown, Pennsylvania).
Porthos, which stands for Port of Rotterdam CO2 Transportation Hub and Offshore Storage, aims to reduce emissions from the port's industries. Rotterdam Port is the largest in Europe, home to Europe's largest refining complex and accounts for approximately 16% of the total CO2 emissions in the Netherlands. The project aims to store roughly 2.5 million tonnes of CO2 per year. Emissions from the developers' local activities will be captured and transported through an offshore pipeline to a platform in the North Sea, approximately 20 kilometers off the coast. From this platform, the CO2 will be pumped into an empty gas field more than 3 kilometers beneath the North Sea. Industrial Info is tracking 11 projects associated with Porthos worth almost US$1 billion. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Project Database can click here for the reports.
Commenting on the decision, the Porthos groups stated: "The first major CO2 transport and storage project in the Netherlands can go ahead now that the Council of State has ruled positively on the ecological assessment of the Porthos project. It concluded that the ecological study showed that Porthos's nitrogen deposition does not have a significant impact on nearby natural areas. The final investment decision is currently being prepared by Porthos. The aim is to start construction in early 2024. Storing CO2 in empty gas fields beneath the North Sea seabed will allow large amounts of CO2 to be kept out of the atmosphere at relatively low cost in the short term. Thanks to Porthos, 2.5 million tonnes of CO2 will be captured and permanently stored annually. Construction of the Porthos system will take about two years. Porthos is expected to be operational from 2026."
Port of Rotterdam Authority welcomed the decision: "The incorporation plan and environmental permits for the so-called Porthos project remain in place. This means that the Porthos project may go ahead."
The Dutch government is heavily invested in the success of the Porthos project as it forms a key pillar for its CO2 reduction policy and to which it has committed significant funding support. It aims to reduce emissions by 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. In 2021, it promised roughly 2 billion euro ($2.4 billion) in financial support to accelerate its leading projects, including Porthos. For additional information, see May 18, 2021, article--Netherlands Pledges $2.4 Billion for Carbon Capture Projects.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).
