18 October 2023

First CO₂ storage project in the Netherlands is launched

Porthos has taken a final investment decision to develop the first major CO₂ transport and storage system in the Netherlands. In 2024 construction will begin in Rotterdam, with the Porthos system expected to be operational by 2026. The Porthos infrastructure requires an investment of €1.3 billion. With the final investment decision reached, Porthos will now award contracts required to realise the project.

Porthos is a joint venture of EBN, Gasunie, and the Port of Rotterdam Authority. Porthos will provide transport and storage services to several companies in the port of Rotterdam, including Air Liquide, Air Products, ExxonMobil, and Shell. These companies will invest in their own capture installations to supply CO₂ to Porthos. Porthos will transport the CO₂ through the port of Rotterdam to depleted gas fields in the North Sea, approximately 20 km off the coast, where it will be permanently stored at a depth of 3 to 4 km under the seabed. Porthos plans to store about 2.5 Mton per year for 15 years, totalling around 37 Mton. With that, Porthos has contracted its full storage capacity. The onshore transport system under construction allows for future CO₂ storage projects.

Hans Meeuwsen, Porthos director: “CO₂ storage is crucial if we want to achieve the climate goals in the Netherlands. This investment decision is an important starting point for future developments in CO₂ storage in the Netherlands.”

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a cost-effective way to keep large amounts of CO₂ emissions out of the atmosphere in the short term. It is therefore an important pillar of the Dutch government’s climate policy. Thanks to Porthos, the Rotterdam port industry will soon emit about 10% less CO₂. At the same time, the industry is working on the transition to processes based on renewable energy and raw materials.

To realise the project, Porthos partners with TAQA Energy, the present operator of the P18 gas fields, and specialised contractors and suppliers such as Denys N.V., Allseas, LMR Drilling GmbH, Mannesmann Grossrohr GmbH, Corinth Pipeworks, Equans, Ensco Offshore, Van der Ven and Bonatti. Together, under Porthos’ direction, they will deliver the required infrastructure.

The European Union recognised Porthos as an important project in meeting climate targets, declaring Porthos a Project of Common Interest and awarded €102 million in subsidy for it.