Global fertilizer manufacturer Yara announced on Monday the formalization of a binding agreement to implement an innovative carbon capture and storage (CCS) initiative at its Dutch ammonia plant. The captured carbon dioxide (CO2) will then be transported to the Norwegian North Sea for secure sub-seabed storage, representing a pioneering effort in cross-border emissions reduction.
According to Yara's statement, the CCS project is anticipated to curtail annual CO2 emissions by an impressive 800,000 tonnes over a 15-year period, significantly contributing to the company's sustainability goals.
Scheduled to commence operations in 2025, this groundbreaking initiative is poised to mark the first instance of cross-border transportation of CO2 for storage. Yara underlined the significance of this endeavor as a crucial step in mitigating hard-to-abate industry emissions in Europe.
The liquefied CO2 will be transported by Northern Lights, a company jointly owned by Equino, TotalEnergies, and Shell, from Yara's Sluiskil plant to a secure storage location beneath Norway's continental shelf, positioned 2.6 km (1.6 miles) beneath the seabed.
Yara's CEO, Svein Tore Holsether, expressed enthusiasm about the milestone, stating, “This is a significant step towards decarbonizing our ammonia production, product lines, and the broader food value chain. It also serves as a noteworthy achievement in the larger context of reducing industrial emissions in Europe.”