Burckhardt Compression will supply compression solutions for the first industrial‑scale liquefied carbon dioxide (LCO₂) carrier, deployed in the Northern Lights carbon capture and storage (CCS) project.
Purpose‑built LCO₂ carriers play a pivotal role in making CCS viable at scale. By transporting CO₂ in liquefied form, they enable the movement of large volumes of captured emissions between industrial sites and permanent storage locations, including across national borders where fixed pipeline infrastructure is often not feasible. This flexibility is increasingly critical as European industries seek practical pathways to decarbonization.
The vessel represents a new industrial size and level of standardization for this emerging segment, supporting the build‑out of CCS infrastructure and the connection of multiple emitters to centralized storage hubs.
“Industrial‑scale CO₂ shipping is becoming a cornerstone for commercially viable carbon capture and storage,” said Andreas Brautsch, president – Systems Division at Burckhardt Compression. “This order demonstrates how proven compressor solutions can help translate climate ambition into reliable operating infrastructure.”
Northern Lights is the world’s first operational cross‑border CO₂ transport and storage project, offering CO₂ transport and permanent offshore storage as a service (see “Northern Lights CCS Project Advances To Phase 2,” May 2025 Gas Compression Magazine, p. 42). Captured CO₂ is shipped to an onshore terminal in Øygarden, Norway, and stored beneath the North Sea. Having entered operation in 2025, the project is expanding its transport and storage capacity in response to growing demand from European industry.
