Heidelberg Materials starts pioneering CO₂ memory project in Norway

Heidelberg Materials starts pioneering CO₂ memory project in Norway

Brevik, Norwegen - A new chapter in the field of CO₂ separation and storage (CCS) is opened in Norway. Heidelberg Materials celebrated an introductory festival in Brevik on June 21, 2025 to mark the start of one of the largest CCS projects in Europe. From August, up to 400,000 tons of carbon dioxide are to be released from the neighboring cement plant every year. The carbon dioxide emissions, which were previously considered inevitable, are to be significantly reduced by this innovative process.

The special thing about this project is to transport the CO₂ via a sophisticated transport system to a deposit in the far north, where the gas is saved safely under the sea floor under high pressure. [Greenentech Live] (https://news.greentech-live.com/2025/06/21/greentech-heidelberg-maschen-startet-revolutionaeres-co%S2%82- Carbon-Capture-and is regarded as pioneering for industrial CO₂ reduction.

The potential of CCS

The technology behind the carbon dioxide separation has promising aspects. According to the Environmental Federal Agency An estimated 85% of CO₂ can be removed from the atmosphere permanently. The inclusion locations vary from transported oil and gas deposits to saltins aquiferen. The challenges include the guarantee that CO₂ remains permanently in these storage, as well as the monitoring of potential environmental impacts.

The political framework for CCS has also developed in recent years. Since 2012, the carbon dioxide storage law (KSPG) in Germany has allowed research and demonstration of CCS systems, but new projects require comprehensive approval that is subject to strict environmental requirements. This shows the urge to implement climate protection measures practical and at the same time minimize environmental risks.

European perspective and economic context

The CCS project in Norway will not only be of great importance locally, but also in the context of European environmental and climate policy. Setis reports of an unprecedented growth in the CCS industry in 2022, with increasing global investments, especially in the USA and the EU. France, Germany and the Netherlands are particularly attracting the most patents for CCS technologies. This development could cause CCS to become an integral part of European climate strategies in the near future.

The combination of separation, transport and storage in a consistent supply chain, as it is sought in Brevik, could serve as a blueprint for other industrial branches. Thanks to the latest technologies, the efficient separation and secure storage of CO₂ is made possible, so that the project by Heidelberg Materials could not only be considered a local solution, but also as an example of numerous imitators worldwide.