Aker Carbon Capture has signed an agreement with Elkem to conduct a feasibility study for the establishment of carbon capture at its Norwegian smelters, and to support the company’s long-term goal of achieving carbon-neutral metal production. 

The purpose of the study is to assess the technical and economic feasibility of installing carbon capture at Elkem’s Norwegian plants in Bjølvefossen, Bremanger, Rana, Salten and Thamshavn. The project has received financial support from through the CLIMIT programme by Gassnova, the Norwegian state enterprise to further develop CCS technologies. The findings from the study will be transferred to Elkem’s plants outside Norway, including its ferrosilicon plant in Iceland.

“Our HSE-friendly solutions have been proven at industrial sites across Europe since we delivered the Technology Center Mongstad back in 2012. By applying Aker Carbon Capture’s proven and HSE-friendly solutions, companies like Elkem can reduce CO2 emissions without introducing new hazardous emissions on site,” says Valborg Lundegaard, Chief Executive Officer of Aker Carbon Capture. “The volume of annual CO2 emissions from the smelters are comparable to the Brevik CCS project at a cement plant in Norway, which means we will build on the experience from realizing this project”. 

Elkem has signed an agreement with Aker Carbon Capture to evaluate and study technological designs and solutions of a capture facility, facilities for liquefaction and upload of CO2 to transport ships from the Northern Lights storage project, which is part of the Norwegian government’s Longship initiative to establish the whole CCS value chain.

“Elkem is among the global leaders in the environmentally responsible manufacture of advanced materials. We have already come a long way with our biocarbon strategy, having achieved 20 percent reduction of direct fossil CO2 emissions from our Norwegian smelters using biocarbon. By combining our biocarbon strategy with carbon capture, high energy efficiency at the facilities and other environmental efforts, we have the opportunity to take significant steps forward”, says Trond Sæterstad, climate director at Elkem. 

The carbon capture study will be completed in the second quarter of 2021. The independent Norwegian research organisation SINTEF and Norwegian consultancy corporation Norsk Energi will contribute as partners in the project.

KeyFacts Energy Industry Directory: Aker Horizons