Aker, Sintef partner for CCS; explores hydrogen hub in Aukra, Norway
CCS technology has been used for various purposes on a large scale for the past 20 years. The technology needs to reduce costs and increase safety.
Aker Carbon Capture (a dedicated carbon capture technology solution company) and Sintef (Norway independent research company) have strengthened their partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding. Both partners will collaborate on the current and future projects encompassing R&D projects which include membrane technology, hydrogen applications and testing higher capture rates.
Valborg Lundegaard, Chief Executive Officer of Aker Carbon Capture, said, “Rising interest in carbon capture as a solution to decarbonise industry has raised expectations for what the technology can deliver.”
The two parties will also work in new market segments, such as hydrogen, to develop innovative solutions for scaling up. They will also strengthen collaboration on bilateral research projects and share know-how.
The companies were the main participants in SOLVit, an eight-year R&D program that started in 2008. The NOK 317 million (US$ 38 million) project was partly funded by Gassnova and Aker and was one of the biggest projects in the CCS industry.
In a separate development, Aker Clean Hydrogen and the municipality of Aukra are exploring the potential for a hydrogen production facility in western Norway. Aker Clean Hydrogen will conduct a feasibility study on the potential development of the hydrogen hub.
The Aukra Hydrogen Hub project will use natural gas from the local gas processing plant in Aukra, splitting the natural gas into CO2 and hydrogen. The CO2 will be permanently stored, and the blue hydrogen can be used to decarbonise local industrial processes.
A sister company, Aker Carbon Capture, will, together with the Sintef research institute, explore new capture technology for hydrogen production units which complements its technology for blue hydrogen from steam methane reforming (SMR).
Aker ASA is an industrial investment company with ownership interests in oil and gas, renewable energy and green technologies etc. Aker is the largest shareholder, directly or indirectly, in 13 listed companies. Aker Horizon, a portfolio company of Aker ASA, has investments in Aker Offshore Wind and Aker Carbon Capture, Mainstream Renewable Power and Aker Clean Hydrogen.
