Aker Kværner Takes Lead In Carbon Capture Technology

Norwegian engineering company Aker Kværner is building the world's largest CO2 capture facility in Norway, as it moves to make a foothold in the carbon capture industry.

The new Nkr725m CO2 capturing unit will be located near to a gas power plant at Kårstø, on the west coast of Norway, and is designed to be the first and largest facility of its kind, according to the company.

The carbon capture plant will connect to both emission sources at the Kårstø plant, enabling continuous CO2 removal, even if the gas-fired power plant is shut down for periods.

The plant will have a capacity to remove 100,000t of CO2 annually from exhaust gasses.

"The main purpose of the new Kårstø plant is the development of construction methods and effective execution models that make carbon sequestration so inexpensive that it becomes cheaper to clean emissions than to pollute," says Aker Kværner President and CEO Martinus Brandal.

Aker Clean Carbon – a wholly owned subsidiary of Aker Kværner - believes carbon capture plants will become an industry similar to building oil platforms today.

"Our goal is to put Aker Clean Carbon at the forefront as this environmental industry matures," says Aker ASA Chairman and CEO Leif-Arne Langøy.

Aker Kværner will transfer its technology for carbon capture, called Just Catch, to Aker Clean Carbon, which will develop the project.

The facility is due to be complete in 2009.

This week, Aker Kværner announced it will change its name to incorporate all of its twelve divisions under one brand: Aker Solutions.

By Ozge Ibrahim