“Credible carbon accounting is essential to the integrity of the emerging CCS industry. It includes a precise tracking of CO2 volumes transported and stored, as well as emissions arising across the value chain. The CO2 accounting and measurement procedures are described in Northern Lights’ Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV). Data is recorded in our digital system, which is designed as a ledger for all certificates. We are proud to be able to issue the first storage certificates for our customers,” said Tim Heijn, Managing Director in Northern Lights JV.
Each Northern Lights JV certificate is issued to a specific CO2 ship cargo and details the quantity of CO2 stored, with a breakdown of its share of relevant lifecycle emissions—from initial loading to the issuance of storage certificates, which also include and account for emissions from the facilities and operations. This process ensures that the certificate serves as transparent and verifiable proof of emission storage.
In August, the first CO2 volumes were transported through the 100-km pipeline and injected into the Aurora offshore reservoir 2,600 m below the seabed of the Norwegian North Sea.
Following the start of the CO2 injection, Northern Lights has issued the very first set of storage certificates documenting that the CO2 volumes captured at Heidelberg Materials’ cement factory in Brevik have been transported and stored permanently in the reservoir.
The MRV framework and digital solution in Northern Lights are designed to deliver the transparency and accuracy required by both compliance and voluntary carbon markets. By issuing the CO2 storage certificates, Northern Lights can provide industrial customers with verifiable proof of permanent emissions storage in a growing market for decarbonized products and services.
