Puro.earth, the carbon dioxide removal (CDR) market infrastructure provider, has announced the certification and issuance of CO2 Removal Certificates (CORCs) for the VEAS wastewater treatment plant project in Norway, developed by Inherit Carbon Solutions.
The initiative represents the world’s first project where biogenic carbon dioxide released during biogas production is captured and permanently stored geologically. This novel approach to bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) also marks Puro.earth’s inaugural BECCS certification for a European facility.
The certification follows validation under Puro.earth’s Geologically Stored Carbon methodology (Edition 2024), verified by an independent third party. More than 700 CORCs have been issued in the public Puro Registry, covering the project’s initial four months of operation from February to May 2026. Frequent future issuances will be supported by ongoing monitoring, reporting, and verification.
The carbon dioxide originates from Norway’s largest wastewater facility, the VEAS plant in Slemmestad, which treats wastewater for over 800,000 residents across Oslo, Bærum, and Asker. Biogenic carbon dioxide is generated as a natural byproduct during the processing of organic material within the plant’s biogas production unit.
The project operates through a multi-partner collaboration:
- Inherit Carbon Solutions acts as the project developer.
- HoopCO2 operates the capture and liquefaction facility.
- Northern Lights JV provides transportation and permanent offshore geological storage.
Once captured and liquefied, the carbon dioxide is transported by road to the Northern Lights terminal in Øygarden. From there, it is piped offshore for permanent storage 2,600 metres beneath the seabed.
Northern Lights, which has stored fossil-based carbon dioxide commercially since August 2025, is receiving biogenic carbon dioxide for the first time through this venture. The facility is set to receive up to 7,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually from VEAS over the course of the agreement.
By leveraging existing municipal infrastructure alongside dedicated carbon transport networks, the VEAS project establishes a repeatable model for the broader global biogas sector. As a smaller-scale, faster-to-deploy BECCS initiative, it serves as a operational reference point for corporate buyers, investors, and policymakers across the Nordics and wider European region.
Jan-Willem Bode, President of Puro.earth, noted that the issuance demonstrates the clear potential of combining biogas and carbon storage infrastructure, turning biogenic emissions that would otherwise enter the atmosphere into permanent removals.
Kaja Voss, CEO of Inherit Carbon Solutions, added that the certification provides a credible pathway for bringing these credits to market while highlighting the significant untapped potential for biogenic carbon capture across the wider biogas supply chain.
