Norway’s world’s first full-scale carbon capture plant at its cement factory in Brevik is failing to meet climate targets, raising questions about whether the technology can deliver on its promise in heavy industry. According to a report by Spiegel and confirmed by Norwegian environmental regulators, the facility—operated by Norcem, a subsidiary of HeidelbergCement—has captured just 40% of the carbon dioxide it was designed to handle since launching in 2024. The shortfall comes as Norway, a global leader in carbon capture and storage (CCS), faces mounting pressure to prove the technology’s viability in sectors where emissions are hardest to cut.
The plant, a flagship project of Norway’s Longship initiative—a €2.4 billion public-private effort to decarbonize industry—was expected to capture 400,000 tons of CO₂ annually by 2025. Instead, operational data reviewed by Spiegel shows it captured only 160,000 tons in its first year, with technical glitches and underperformance cited by Norwegian Climate and Pollution Agency (Klif) officials as primary factors. “The plant is not delivering as planned,” said Kari Norgaard, Klif’s director of industrial emissions, in an interview with Dagens Næringsliv. “We’re monitoring closely, but the gap between ambition and reality is widening.”
Why is Norway’s CCS plant underperforming?
Three interlinked issues are hampering the Brevik facility’s output, according to internal documents obtained by Spiegel and cross-checked with HeidelbergCement:
- Design flaws in the capture system: The plant’s amine-based scrubbers, which chemically bind CO₂ from flue gases, were scaled up too rapidly, leading to corrosion in pipelines and inefficiencies in gas separation. SINTEF, Norway’s largest independent research organization, warned in a 2023 report that the technology’s maturity for cement plants was “overstated” compared to power stations.
- Supply chain bottlenecks: The project relied on imported components, including solvents from AkzoNobel and compressors from MAN Energy Solutions, which faced delays due to global semiconductor shortages. A Norwegian Parliament audit in March noted that 30% of Longship’s budget had been diverted to mitigate such risks.
- Regulatory misalignment: Norway’s Carbon Capture and Storage Act grants tax incentives for captured CO₂, but only if it is permanently stored. The Brevik plant’s storage site, Northern Lights, operated by Equinor, has faced criticism for slow injection rates—currently storing just 1.5 million tons annually, far below its 2030 target of 5 million tons.
These challenges contrast sharply with Norway’s earlier successes in CCS. The Sleipner gas field, operational since 1996, has captured over 25 million tons of CO₂ with 99% reliability. Yet cement production—responsible for 8% of global CO₂ emissions—presents unique hurdles. “The chemistry is different,” explained Dr. Terje Berntsen, a CCS specialist at University of Oslo. “Cement kilns operate at 1,450°C, and the CO₂ is mixed with other gases like sulfur dioxide, which complicates capture.”
What happens next for Norway’s CCS ambitions?
Norway’s government has committed to expanding CCS as part of its 2030 climate plan, with HeidelbergCement planning a second Brevik facility by 2027. However, the setback has triggered a review by the Ministry of Climate and Environment, which is evaluating whether to extend public funding. “We’re not abandoning the project,” said Espen Barth Eide, Norway’s climate minister, in a statement to Reuters. “But we need to see a clear path to scaling up reliably.”
Industry insiders warn that the Brevik plant’s struggles could dampen investor confidence. Global CCS Institute data shows that only 40 of the world’s 190 CCS projects are in the cement sector, with most still in pilot phases. “Norway was supposed to be the proving ground,” said Andrew McConnell, CEO of Carbon Clean Solutions, a UK-based CCS firm. “If this doesn’t work, other countries will hesitate to follow.”
Meanwhile, alternative technologies are gaining traction. CarbonCure, a Canadian startup, has developed a method to mineralize CO₂ directly in concrete, avoiding capture costs entirely. A pilot at LafargeHolcim’s plant in Canada reduced emissions by 10% with no operational disruptions. “The question isn’t whether CCS will work,” said Phil Carmichael, CarbonCure’s founder. “It’s whether it’s the most efficient way forward.”
How does Norway’s failure compare to global CCS projects?
A comparison of Norway’s Brevik plant with two other high-profile CCS initiatives reveals stark differences in performance and scalability:
| Project | Location | Expected Capture (2024) | Actual Capture (2024) | Primary Challenge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brevik Cement Plant | Norway | 400,000 tons CO₂ | 160,000 tons CO₂ | Technical inefficiencies, supply delays |
| Gorgon CCS | Australia | 3.4 million tons CO₂ | 3.1 million tons CO₂ | Regulatory delays, pipeline leaks |
| Peterhead Power Station | UK | 2.5 million tons CO₂ | 0 tons CO₂ (shut down) | Economic viability concerns |
While Norway’s project is underperforming, Australia’s Gorgon CCS—the world’s largest—has managed to capture over 90% of its target, though at a cost of A$5.7 billion. The UK’s Peterhead plant, meanwhile, was abandoned in 2023 after Storegga Geotechnical withdrew funding, citing prohibitive operational costs. “The economics are brutal,” said Dr. Stuart Haszeldine, a CCS expert at University of Edinburgh. “Norway’s approach is still the most aggressive, but it’s clear that without breakthroughs in efficiency, CCS will remain a niche solution.”
The Brevik plant’s struggles come as the International Energy Agency (IEA) warns that CCS must capture 5.6 billion tons of CO₂ annually by 2050 to meet net-zero goals—a figure 14 times higher than current global capacity. With Norway’s project serving as a test case, the next 12 months will determine whether CCS can scale in time—or if industries like cement must turn to alternatives.
HeidelbergCement has not commented on the Spiegel findings but confirmed in a statement to Bloomberg that “corrective measures are underway.” The Northern Lights storage project, meanwhile, remains on track to begin full operations in 2026, though its capacity will be limited by Norway’s geological constraints. For now, the Brevik plant’s underperformance underscores a critical question: In an era where every ton of CO₂ counts, can CCS deliver—or is it a dead end for heavy industry?
