In Short : Construction on Europe’s largest carbon capture site is set to commence next year, marking a significant step toward mitigating climate change. Carbon capture technology aims to capture CO2 emissions from industrial processes and power plants, preventing them from entering the atmosphere and contributing to global warming. This project showcases the region’s commitment to innovation and sustainability, providing a model for other nations to follow in the fight against climate change.
In Detail : CONSTRUCTION of Europe’s largest carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility will begin in the Rotterdam port area next year, its developers said on Wednesday (Oct 18).
The planned “Porthos” project will require an investment of 1.3 billion euros (S$1.9 billion) and is expected to be operational by 2026. Its developers include the Rotterdam port authorities and Dutch gas company Gasunie.
Under the project, CO2 emitted by refineries and chemical plants operated by Shell, ExxonMobil, Air Liquide and Air Products will be transported to empty gas fields under the North Sea, around 20 km off the Dutch coast.
There it will be stored at a depth of 3 km to 4 km under the seabed, reducing the Netherlands’ annual CO2 emissions by an estimated 2 per cent for a period of 15 years from 2026.
The companies involved will invest in their own capture installations to supply CO2 to Porthos.
Capturing the CO2 emitted by large industries is seen by many experts as instrumental to the Dutch government’s aim for a 55 per cent reduction of those emissions by 2030, relative to 1990 levels.