Aker Solutions to Accelerate Carbon Capture and Removal Projects with Microsoft
Aker Solutions has signed an agreement with Microsoft to advance the development, bankability and delivery of carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon dioxide removal (CDR) projects worldwide, as the companies seek to help move projects from early development toward final investment decisions.
Under the agreement, Aker Solutions will work with project developers, industrial emitters, transport and storage providers, industry stakeholders and governments to support project development, reduce execution risks and strengthen investment readiness. The collaboration will also examine potential opportunities involving CDR credits and is intended to accelerate projects toward final investment decisions.
The partnership combines Microsoft’s expertise in digital technologies, data, artificial intelligence, monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV), and carbon markets with Aker Solutions’ techno-economic advisory services and end-to-end engineering, procurement and construction capabilities.
For selected CCS and CDR projects that progress toward FID, the companies plan to provide integrated engineering and execution support, creating a pathway from early-stage feasibility through to operations.
“Many carbon capture and removal projects face similar challenges as they move from concept to reality. As the market matures, success will depend on strong collaboration across the value chain. Joining forces with Microsoft, we aim to help project developers navigate complexity, strengthen business cases, and support the next wave of CCS and CDR projects,” said Kjetel Digre, CEO of Aker Solutions.
Microsoft has pledged to become carbon negative by 2030 and remove its historical emissions by 2050. The company has also worked to support the development of the durable carbon dioxide removal market through long-term purchasing agreements and by sharing experience from those activities.
“Microsoft supports collaborations that look holistically across the entire value chain, connecting physical infrastructure with trusted data, AI and digital MRV to help projects reduce risk, and move from ambition to execution. We are working with Aker Solutions to bring these complementary capabilities together and help accelerate credible CCS and carbon removal projects globally,” said Darryl Willis, corporate vice president, energy and resources at Microsoft.
The agreement was signed at ONS in Stavanger, Norway, bringing together Aker Solutions‘ project development and engineering capabilities with Microsoft’s digital, data and carbon-market expertise to support the next generation of carbon capture and carbon removal projects.
