Northern Lights JV is one of the world’s most advanced carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects and a cornerstone of Norway’s strategy to build a low-emission industrial economy. Located in Øygarden just west of Bergen, the project provides infrastructure that allows companies across Europe to transport captured CO₂ to Norway for permanent underground storage beneath the North Sea. Photo: Torstein Lund Eik.

New CO₂ infrastructure support scheme could unlock industrial opportunities in Vestland

Vestland is well positioned to become a leading hub for carbon management and low-emission industry following the launch of a new national funding programme for CO₂ reception terminals.

This week the state-owned enterprise that manages public funding to accelerate the development and adoption of climate-friendly technologies and energy solutions, Enova, opened a support scheme aimed at accelerating investments in CO₂ reception terminals, that is a critical piece of infrastructure needed to build functioning carbon capture and storage (CCS) value chains across Norway. The programme can cover up to 50 percent of project costs, with support of up to NOK 250 million per project.

Building on Northern Lights

Vestland already hosts some of Norway’s most important industrial clusters, energy infrastructure and maritime competence environments. Combined with the region’s strategic location on the west coast and its proximity to emerging CO₂ transport and storage networks, the new programme strengthens the business case for future carbon management investments.

The new scheme could create significant new opportunities for industrial development, investment attraction and green value creation. Norway has located the Northern Lights project in Øygarden, Vestland, and in the next phase of this CCS project, Norway is focusing more on developing a broader supplier industry and involving small and medium-sized companies across the CO₂ value chain.

The funding scheme is designed to accelerate the establishment of infrastructure that can serve multiple industrial users. According to Enova, publicly available reception terminals will help create more efficient logistics for CO₂ transport while supporting the development of commercial carbon management value chains. Projects must be capable of handling at least 50,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually and provide access to permanent storage solutions.

CO₂ is captured from industrial facilities such as the cemen plant at Herøya, then liquefied and transported by specialized ships to the receiving terminal in Øygarden where it is injected around 2,600 metres below the seabed into geological reservoirs where it can be safely stored permanently. Photo: CHarlotte Hartvigsen Lem.

Opening for SMEs

The planned new terminals will enable companies to deliver captured CO₂ by truck before it is transported to permanent storage sites. This lowers barriers for small and medium-sized industrial emitters that have previously been excluded from CCS solutions due to the high costs and volume requirements associated with ship-based transport.

The announcement comes amid growing national momentum around carbon capture and storage. Enova has also launched a NOK 700 million support programme aimed at accelerating industrial carbon capture projects, signalling a broader shift from pilot initiatives to large-scale deployment.

For international investors, technology companies and industrial operators looking to participate in Europe’s energy transition, Vestland offers a strong platform for growth. New CO₂ infrastructure could strengthen the region’s position as a gateway for low-carbon industry, while creating opportunities across logistics, engineering, maritime services, digital solutions and industrial decarbonisation.

As carbon management becomes an increasingly important part of Europe’s climate strategy, the latest Enova initiative highlights how regions with strong industrial ecosystems and energy expertise, such as Vestland, can play a central role in building the next generation of green infrastructure.

Reach out if you want to learn more about opportunities in Vestland.

This is Northern Lights:
Northern Lights is the transport and storage part of Norway’s national CCS programme, Longship. It is widely regarded as the world’s first commercial, open-access, cross-border CO₂ transport and storage service. Companies from different European countries can buy storage capacity without having to build their own storage infrastructure. The terminal in Øygarden has an initial capacity of 1.5 million tonnes of CO₂ per year and is being expanded toward at least 5 million tonnes annually due to growing demand from European industry. The project is owned by the three major energy companies Equinor, Shell, and TotalEnergies.

Created 01/06/2026 Author Charlotte Lem