Aker Solutions, Knutsen NYK Carbon Carriers AS (KNCC), and Vår Energi CCS AS have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop an integrated CO₂ transportation and storage value chain on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The partnership is designed to strengthen the Trudvang CCS project, providing a scalable decarbonisation pathway for industrial customers across Europe.
The collaboration merges Aker Solutions’ decades of offshore engineering expertise with KNCC’s specialised marine transportation capabilities and Vår Energi’s experience in subsea storage operations. By combining these strengths, the alliance aims to create a commercially attractive, flexible “batch injection” model for liquefied CO₂.
A key feature of the Trudvang project is the design of an unmanned CO₂ injection platform. This infrastructure will be supported by KNCC’s specialised carriers, which use dynamic positioning systems to enable direct offshore injection. This approach simplifies the technical interface between vessels and subsea storage sites, reducing both environmental footprints and operational costs.
The project is designed for rapid scalability. Initial injection volumes are projected at approximately 2 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa), with the potential to expand to more than 20 Mtpa as demand for carbon storage grows.
The Trudvang project will store CO₂ in the Utsira Formation, a premier reservoir in the North Sea. The site benefits from significant historical data; the nearby Sleipner field has successfully stored CO₂ in the Utsira aquifer for nearly 30 years. This established track record provides high confidence in the formation’s long-term reliability for industrial-scale sequestration.
“Large-scale, strategically located assets like Trudvang represent a compelling opportunity for expansion in the natural gas and carbon value chains,” the partners indicated, noting that the project offers flexible logistics for both medium-pressure and elevated-pressure CO₂ transport.
The Trudvang project holds the EXL007 CO₂ licence, awarded by the Norwegian Ministry of Energy in 2023. At the time of the MoU, the ownership structure of Trudvang consists of:
- Vår Energi CCS AS: 40%
- INPEX Idemitsu Norge AS: 30%
- Storegga Norge AS: 30%
Aker Solutions, which has been involved in flagship CCS developments including Northern Lights and Brevik CCS, will act as a turnkey supplier. KNCC—a joint venture between the Knutsen Group and NYK Line—will leverage its proprietary ambient-temperature transportation technology and its experience operating the largest shuttle tanker fleet in the North Sea to manage the marine logistics.
The partners will now focus on joint engagement with regulators and industrial stakeholders to mature the technical framework and ensure seamless operations in the North Sea environment.
