Released May 07, 2025 | GALWAY, IRELAND
en
Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--The Dutch government has intervened to support the nation's leading carbon capture and storage (CCS) project, Aramis, following the withdrawal of financial support by key partners Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL) (London, England) and TotalEnergies SE (NYSE:TTE) (Courbevoie, France).
The government's commitment of funding of 639 million euros (US$$726 million) comes as Shell and TotalEnergies decided not to invest in the construction of the pipeline system for Aramis, which will be needed to connect key heavy industrial emitters to the CO2 transportation system. The companies will continue to support other aspects of the project, including developing the carbon storage sites and offering carbon storage services.
"This takes away a large part of the risk in the project," said Dutch Climate Minister Sophie Hermans while announcing a wider tranche of funding for sustainable energy projects. The project is now being led by Dutch state-owned energy infrastructure company Gasunie (Groningen, Netherlands) and state-owned power company Energie Beheer Nederland (EBN), with a final investment decision expected next year.
Aramis forms the cornerstone of the Dutch government's plan to reduce emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. Last year, the figure stood at 37% lower than 1990 levels. Aramis will capture CO2 from industrial emissions and transport it to underground storage locations in empty gas fields beneath the North Sea. It aims to transport up to 22 million tonnes of CO2 annually, establishing an open-access system that will let industrial companies make use of it. Commissioning is expected in 2030.
Hans Coenen, a member of the executive board of Gasunie, said: "It is good that there is now clarity about the future and hence continuity of the Aramis project. The project is essential to meet our climate goals and to offer perspective to our industry in the Netherlands and Northwest Europe. Together with EBN we are committed to a timely realization of the project so that we can actually achieve the climate goals for 2030. At the same time, I am pleased that both Shell and TotalEnergies remain closely involved in the further development of CCS in the Netherlands."
Last month, Industrial Info reported that Shell and TotalEneregies had made a final investment decision to pump more than US$700 million into the second phase of Europe's largest carbon project, Northern Lights, in Norway. Liquefied CO2 will be transported by special liquefied CO2 (LOC2) carriers from various industrial sites to Øygarden, before being pumped through a 110-kilometer (km) subsea pipeline for permanent storage in a reservoir in the North Sea, 2.6 kilometers under the seabed.
The first phase was commissioned at the end of last year and comprises a receiving terminal in Øygarden in western Norway, alongside the injection pipeline and subsea installations. It is capable of storing 1.5 million tonnes of captured carbon dioxide per year, beginning this summer. The second phase will increase the project transport and storage capacity from 1.5 million to more than 5 million tons of CO2 per year from 2028.
The first phase was commissioned at the end of last year and the full capacity of 1.5 million tonnes has already been booked. Industrial Info is tracking 15 projects across numerous sectors related to the Northern Lights initiative, worth more than US$1.4 billion in investment. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Project Database can click here for the reports. For additional information, see April 15, 2025, article - Northern Lights Carbon Project Gets US$700 Million Expansion.
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 government's commitment of funding of 639 million euros (US$$726 million) comes as Shell and TotalEnergies decided not to invest in the construction of the pipeline system for Aramis, which will be needed to connect key heavy industrial emitters to the CO2 transportation system. The companies will continue to support other aspects of the project, including developing the carbon storage sites and offering carbon storage services.
"This takes away a large part of the risk in the project," said Dutch Climate Minister Sophie Hermans while announcing a wider tranche of funding for sustainable energy projects. The project is now being led by Dutch state-owned energy infrastructure company Gasunie (Groningen, Netherlands) and state-owned power company Energie Beheer Nederland (EBN), with a final investment decision expected next year.
Aramis forms the cornerstone of the Dutch government's plan to reduce emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. Last year, the figure stood at 37% lower than 1990 levels. Aramis will capture CO2 from industrial emissions and transport it to underground storage locations in empty gas fields beneath the North Sea. It aims to transport up to 22 million tonnes of CO2 annually, establishing an open-access system that will let industrial companies make use of it. Commissioning is expected in 2030.
Hans Coenen, a member of the executive board of Gasunie, said: "It is good that there is now clarity about the future and hence continuity of the Aramis project. The project is essential to meet our climate goals and to offer perspective to our industry in the Netherlands and Northwest Europe. Together with EBN we are committed to a timely realization of the project so that we can actually achieve the climate goals for 2030. At the same time, I am pleased that both Shell and TotalEnergies remain closely involved in the further development of CCS in the Netherlands."
Last month, Industrial Info reported that Shell and TotalEneregies had made a final investment decision to pump more than US$700 million into the second phase of Europe's largest carbon project, Northern Lights, in Norway. Liquefied CO2 will be transported by special liquefied CO2 (LOC2) carriers from various industrial sites to Øygarden, before being pumped through a 110-kilometer (km) subsea pipeline for permanent storage in a reservoir in the North Sea, 2.6 kilometers under the seabed.
The first phase was commissioned at the end of last year and comprises a receiving terminal in Øygarden in western Norway, alongside the injection pipeline and subsea installations. It is capable of storing 1.5 million tonnes of captured carbon dioxide per year, beginning this summer. The second phase will increase the project transport and storage capacity from 1.5 million to more than 5 million tons of CO2 per year from 2028.
The first phase was commissioned at the end of last year and the full capacity of 1.5 million tonnes has already been booked. Industrial Info is tracking 15 projects across numerous sectors related to the Northern Lights initiative, worth more than US$1.4 billion in investment. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Project Database can click here for the reports. For additional information, see April 15, 2025, article - Northern Lights Carbon Project Gets US$700 Million Expansion.
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).
