The Northern Lights project has taken a major step by storing carbon dioxide captured from wastewater for the first time. The emissions were collected at a treatment plant, where waste naturally produces CO₂, then compressed and transported to Norway’s coast. From there, the carbon was injected deep underground—about 2.6 kilometres below the seabed—where it can be safely stored in rock formations for the long term. This shows that even everyday systems like wastewater treatment can be part of climate solutions.
Supported by companies like Equinor, Shell, and TotalEnergies, the project aims to store up to 1.5 million tonnes of CO₂ each year in its early phase, with plans to increase that capacity. It focuses on capturing emissions from sectors that are difficult to fully clean up, such as waste and industry. While experts see this as an important climate tool, they also emphasize that reducing emissions at the source remains essential alongside carbon storage efforts. More