The Netherlands – The final investment decision has been made by Porthos. The first significant CO2 transport and storage system in the Netherlands will begin building in Rotterdam in 2024.
In 2026, the Porthos system is anticipated to be operational. 1.3 billion euros have been invested in the Porthos infrastructure. Porthos will give the final orders to the contractors who will carry out the project after making the final investment decision.
EBN, Gasunie, and the Port of Rotterdam Authority are partners in Porthos. In the port of Rotterdam, Porthos offers CO2 transport and storage services to a variety of businesses. ExxonMobil, Shell, Air Liquide, and Air Products will all capture CO2 and provide it to Porthos. They make their own investments in capture installations to do this. The CO2 is then transported by Porthos through the port of Rotterdam to empty gas fields some 20 kilometers inland. 3 to 4 kilometers beneath the North Sea’s surface, the CO2 is permanently stored there. For 15 years, Porthos will store about 2.5 Mton annually, for a total of about 37 Mton. Thus, Porthos is no longer available. There is room for potential CO2 storage projects in the on-going onland transit system.
Realization
Porthos is collaborating with TAQA Energy, the P18 gas fields’ existing operator, as well as specialized suppliers and contractors like Denys NV, Allseas, LMR Drilling GmbH, Mannesmann Grossrohr GmbH, Corinth Pipeworks, Equans, Ensco Offshore, Van der Ven, and Bonatti to bring the project to fruition. The building of the necessary infrastructure is their joint responsibility.
Project of common interest
A key component of the Dutch government’s climate policy is CCS. Porthos has helped to cut CO2 emissions in the port of Rotterdam by about 10%. The Council of State decided that the Porthos project could proceed last summer. The building won’t significantly affect the nearby Natura 2000 regions, according to the Council of State. Porthos has been identified as an initiative of Common Interest by the European Union, which has also made a €102 million subsidy available for it. Porthos has been acknowledged as a crucial initiative for meeting climate targets.
