Heidelberg Materials Inaugurates World’s First Industrial-Scale CCS Facility in Cement Industry
Heidelberg Materials has officially launched the Brevik Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) facility in Norway, marking a groundbreaking achievement in the cement industry.
The facility, located at the Brevik cement plant, is the world’s first industrial-scale CCS operation in the sector, set to capture approximately 400,000 tons of CO₂ annually, or 50% of the plant's emissions. This significant step represents a critical move towards reducing the carbon footprint of the cement industry, which is a key player in global CO₂ emissions.
During the inauguration ceremony, H.R.H. Crown Prince Haakon of Norway unveiled a commemorative plaque, in the presence of Terje Aasland, Norway’s Minister of Energy, Dr. Dominik von Achten, Chairman of the Managing Board of Heidelberg Materials, and over 320 distinguished guests, including industry leaders and high-level government officials.
Brevik CCS's Role in Climate Mitigation
The facility is part of the Norwegian government’s Longship project, which aims to establish Europe's first full-scale carbon capture, transport, and storage (CCS) value chain from hard-to-abate industries. Within this initiative, Northern Lights, a collaboration between Equinor, Shell, and TotalEnergies, is responsible for the transportation and storage of the captured CO₂.
The CO₂ captured at Brevik will be liquefied and transported to an onshore terminal on Norway’s west coast, where it will then be transferred via pipeline for permanent storage beneath the North Sea. This process will help mitigate climate change by reducing emissions from one of the hardest-to-decarbonize industries.
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A Technological Breakthrough in Sustainable Construction
Dr. Dominik von Achten, Chairman of the Managing Board of Heidelberg Materials said, “Today marks a historic milestone and tectonic shift in the built environment. The opening of Brevik CCS is a tremendous technological achievement that will serve as a blueprint for entire industries as we progress towards Net Zero and into a new era of sustainable construction.”
He added, “Above all, it is a testament to what can be accomplished when exceptional minds with a shared vision and strong determination come together. I am very proud of our teams and the partners who have contributed to the success of this project. We owe it to each one of them that supplying net-zero concrete is no longer a future ambition but a reality.”
The facility represents a critical step towards providing net-zero concrete, with Heidelberg Materials planning to deliver evoZero®, the world’s first carbon-captured cement, to customers across Europe. This innovation will help revolutionize the building materials industry, which plays a significant role in global emissions.
Operational Milestones and Future Expansion
Heidelberg Materials has started CO₂ capture at its Brevik CCS facility, with shipments underway and evoZero® cement deliveries coming soon. The project, integrated without disrupting production, sets the stage for global CCS expansion and supports the company’s climate goals.
