CCS is an abbreviation of Carbon Capture and Storage. CCS means the capture and permanent storage of CO₂ (carbon dioxide). CO₂ is created by the complete combustion of carbon and carbon-containing compounds such as lignite, coal and natural gas. It can also be released as a by-product in certain chemical processes such as cement or hydrogen production. You can ‘capture’ CO₂ as soon as it is released and thus prevent it from entering the air. If the captured CO₂ is stored, for example in empty gas fields under the North Sea, this is called CCS.

CCU is an abbreviation of Carbon Capture and Utilization. This stands for the capture and reuse of CO₂, for example as a raw material in a new product.

CCUS includes both CCS and CCU.

While CCS is new to the Netherlands, it has been successfully implemented elsewhere in the world for over 20 years. In Norway, the Sleipner and Snøhvit projects have stored more than 20 million tons of CO₂ beneath the North Sea seabed. Similar projects, such as Quest in Canada and Illinois Industrial in the United States, have been storing CO₂ for years. Globally, around 20 facilities are currently operational.  

The terminal will be able to receive and supply liquid CO₂ via ships and be connected to empty gas fields in the North Sea via the Aramis sea pipeline. The terminal therefore offers a flexible alternative for the transport and storage of significant amounts of CO₂. This also makes CCS possible for emitters that are not connected to a CO₂ pipeline.

In the Dutch climate agreement, the Dutch government underlines the importance of CCS in the mix of measures to achieve the climate objectives.

To achieve the climate goals, the amount of CO₂ emitted must quickly be significantly reduced. Industry must also become more sustainable. However, not all industry can avoid CO₂ emissions in the short term. Consider, for example, refineries, waste processing, chemical companies and producers of steel, fertilizer or cement.

CCS is one of the few ways in which this type of industry can avoid large amounts of CO₂ emissions in the short term and at relatively low cost, thereby contributing to achieving climate goals and remaining viable for our economy.

Various agencies, including the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), have included CCS in their sustainability strategy to achieve the climate goals of the Paris Agreement.

In 2024 and 2025 we will complete the technical design, expect to obtain the necessary permits and conclude the first contracts with our customers. We aim for a final investment decision in 2025.

 In 2024 and 2025 we will complete the technical design, expect to obtain the necessary permits and conclude the first contracts with our customers. We aim for a final investment decision in 2025.

The CO₂next terminal is part of the Aramis initiative value chain. All parts of this chain are needed to store the CO₂ in the empty gas fields under the North Sea. The CO₂next terminal must be operational in order to use the Aramis sea pipeline and the storage facilities under the seabed. The current planning is start-up in 2029, which is in line with the planning for the Aramis sea pipeline and the storage facilities.

In the starting phase 5.4 million tons per year (Mtpa).
This can grow to 10 Mtpa (a permit has already been applied for for this). In the final phase, the terminal can process 15 Mtpa, depending on market demand.

The terminal starts with 2 jetties. 1 jetty can be added during the growth phase. Permission for 3 jetties has been requested in the permit.

Before the project can start, several permits and a ‘project decision’ are required. CO₂next, together with the other parts of the Aramis initiative, follows a single project procedure to obtain both the project decision and the necessary permits. This procedure is coordinated by the Ministry of Climate and Green Growth.

For more details about the permits for CO₂next, see here.

Details about the entire procedure and timeline can be found at www.rvo.nl/aramis.

Irrevocable permits for nature and the environment are expected at the earliest in the second quarter of 2025. An irrevocable building permit is not expected until the fourth quarter of 2025 at the earliest.

For questions or comments about the development of CO₂next, please contact us at info@CO₂next.nl. We would be happy to discuss this with you.

If you would like to give your opinion about a permit, please visit the RVO website. Here you will find all information about the permits, the meetings that are organized and how you can express your opinion or view.

All information about the procedure, the underlying documents and how you can submit a view can be found on the project page of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency.

Safety is paramount in every aspect of the project. Before construction can begin, all components of the plan will be reviewed by authorities responsible for granting permits. All parts of the terminal are designed in such a way that the highest safety standards are achieved. Once the terminal is operational, management systems will ensure that unwanted situations are prevented. While we adhere to strict safety standards during both construction and operation, it is important to note that CO₂ itself is not a hazardous substance.  

• CO₂ is inherently low-risk and naturally present in the air. It is non-flammable, does not easily react with other substances, and is even used as a fire suppressant. 
• CO₂ only poses a risk to humans and animals at very high concentrations. In extremely rare scenarios where large amounts might be released, there could be a risk to the immediate surroundings, such as personnel present at the terminal. However, the materials, construction methods, and security systems chosen ensure that the chance of a serious leak is minimal. 
• CO₂ detectors will be installed at various locations within the terminal. In the unlikely event that CO₂ is released, clear protocols will be in place for handling the situation. These protocols are being coordinated with the Safety Region and emergency services.

To minimize environmental impacts, several measures are taken. 
The potential effects that may occur and the measures we implement are described in the Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The EIR and its summary can be found on the RVO website.  
Some of the measures include:

• Ships transporting CO₂ will operate electrically as much as possible from the shipping route to the terminal and back.  
• Ships that cannot operate electrically will use alternative methods to minimize nitrogen emissions.  
• Ships docked at the jetties will use shore power.  
• Operations at the terminal will be conducted electrically as much as possible.  
• Equipment that produces the most noise will be placed indoors.  
• An ecologist will provide advice during construction to minimize the impact on ‘glad biggenkruid’ (hypochaeris glabra).  
• Piling work for the jetties will be carried out using methods that prevent effects on marine mammals. 

In our construction method and planning, we take into account plants and animals that may be present at the (industrial) construction site. For example, we use a relatively quiet piling method and start the piling process slowly to minimize disruption to any marine mammals, such as seals and porpoises, that may be present. In our construction planning, we are advised by an ecologist on seasonal activities to ensure that the construction does not have a negative impact on the (protected) plant species ‘Hypochaeris glabra’.

The current partners are Vopak and Gasunie, Shell, and TotalEnergies. 

Vopak offers crucial infrastructure for indispensable energy sources and raw materials through storage and transshipment. Gasunie provides safe, reliable and sustainable infrastructure for large-scale transport and storage of gases. Shell and TotalEnergies are global leaders in carbon capture and storage. They are also partners in the Northern Lights project, which built the first facility for the import of liquid CO₂ in Europe.

The Aramis initiative value chain consists of several parts:

1. CO₂ capture
CO₂ is captured by industry and made suitable for transport.

2. CO₂ transport

Industry transports CO₂ from the capture facilities to the collection hub on the Maasvlakte, either via onshore pipelines or by ship.

3. CO₂ collection hub
The captured CO₂ is delivered at a central collection point on the Maasvlakte. The collection point consists of the CO2next terminal and a compressor station. Aramis aims to use compression services from Porthos. The CO2next terminal will receive liquid CO₂ via vessels, temporarily store and pressurize the CO₂ before sending it out for transport by sea pipeline. The compressor station receives CO₂ supplied by land pipeline and pressurizes it for transport by sea pipeline.

4. CO₂ offshore pipeline
Aramis transports the CO₂ via an offshore pipeline to the offshore distribution platform or earlier branches on the North Sea.

5. Distribution platform
Via the distribution platform and spurlines, the CO₂ is further transported to the injection platforms of the storage parties.

6. Platforms and CO₂ storage
CO₂ is injected by storage companies TotalEnergies, Shell, Eni Energy Netherlands and other storage parties via wells into depleted gas fields where it can be stored 3-4 km under the seabed.

All components of the Aramis initiative are essential for the success of this CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) project. The projects work closely together to achieve this goal.  For more information, please visit the Aramis website.

We expect CO₂ to be delivered by emitters in the Netherlands, as well as by emitters with a short waterway connection (river or sea). For delivery from southern Germany and Austria, a rail connection will likely be required. 

We are in discussions with various industrial parties that emit CO₂, ranging from the chemical sector to refineries and the cement industry.

We believe it is important to have a good relationship with our stakeholders and to inform all interested parties in a timely manner about relevant matters.

You can find more information about participation and the permitting process here. If you are interested in the possibilities of supplying CO₂, please look here.

Of course, we are happy to engage in dialogue if you have any questions or concerns. Do you have a question or want to learn more about what we do? Please send us a message at info@CO₂next.nl. 

We will get back to you as soon as possible.