"You could say we are writing a new chapter in energy history"
"You could say we are writing a new chapter in energy history"
When Stockholm Exergi's facility for removing carbon dioxide is fully operational, it will be able to capture up to 800,000 tonnes of biogenic carbon dioxide every year – more than the entire road traffic of Stockholm emits. But what happens to the carbon dioxide once it has been captured? The answer lies deep beneath the North Sea, where an entirely new climate industry is taking shape.
Creating negative emissions requires more than capturing carbon dioxide – it must also be stored permanently. That is the foundation of bio-CCS (Bio Energy Carbon Capture and Storage), the technology Stockholm Exergi will begin deploying on a large scale from 2028.
Mikael Jarlhammer is Head of Logistics at Stockholm Exergi and is working to build the entire value chain for the transport and storage of the captured biogenic carbon dioxide. A central part of his work is ensuring that the carbon dioxide can be transported in liquid form from Värtaverket to the storage site outside Bergen, together with storage operator Northern Lights.
– We are responsible for capturing, liquefying, and temporarily storing the biogenic carbon dioxide here in Stockholm. When the vessel is loaded, Northern Lights takes over – they build on decades of technology from the oil and gas industry but use it for the opposite purpose: storing carbon dioxide instead of extracting fossil fuels. This is actually one of the world’s first cross-border CCS projects, so in that sense you could say we are writing a new chapter in energy history, says Mikael.
Once the carbon dioxide leaves Värtahamnen, it is transported on specially built vessels to Øygarden in Norway. There it is offloaded to an intermediate storage facility before being pumped under the seabed via a pipeline of around 100 kilometres. Beneath the seabed lies a geological layer of porous sandstone, and that is where the carbon dioxide is directed – approximately 2,600 metres into the rock. Above the sandstone lies a natural seal of shale and clay that prevents the carbon dioxide from moving upward, while the water pressure helps hold it in place.
– The structure of the rock acts as a natural storage chamber. Initially the carbon dioxide is held in place, before slowly beginning to dissolve into the fluid present in the rock formation. Mineralisation, where the carbon dioxide binds to stable minerals, begins immediately but occurs slowly and can take hundreds to thousands of years depending on the composition of the bedrock, explains Mikael.
Stockholm Exergi is the first Swedish company to sign a transport and storage agreement with Northern Lights. Together with international partners, the EU, and the Swedish Energy Agency, a value chain is now being built that could be decisive in achieving climate targets.
– Being part of building one of Europe’s first large value chains for negative emissions means a great deal to me, both professionally and personally. With my background in shipping, energy, and fuel trading, it is inspiring to be able to put my experience to use in something that creates tangible climate impact. It feels deeply meaningful to be part of a new industry that is not only technically advanced, but also absolutely crucial for the future, says Mikael.
