The Aramis CCS project has achieved a major milestone, which is the entry into the FEED phase (Front End Engineering and Design). The project partners — TotalEnergies, Shell, EBN and Gasunie — have reached agreement on the further development of a key element of the required infrastructure, including the offshore trunkline, as well as the technical/operational integration of the source-to-sink CCS value chain. This brings completion of the largest CCS project in North-West Europe a step closer.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) involves capturing CO₂ and safely storing it underground. In the months ahead, the technical design of this transport infrastructure will be set out in greater detail. The design is expected to be ready in 2025, after which the final investment decision (FID) can be made. Following a positive FID, the actual construction of the transport infrastructure can begin. The Aramis project is planned to be operational by the end of 2028, provided the necessary permits are obtained. Industry will then be able to transport its captured CO₂ through the Aramis trunkline to depleted gas fields under the North Sea.

Annemarie Manger, designated Programme Director Aramis: “I am pleased that we will now further develop the technical design in this FEED phase. With further determining the design, routing and the detailing of the permit applications, the realisation of large-scale CCS in the Netherlands is being brought one step closer. Aramis is on the way to make an important contribution to achieving European and Dutch climate targets for 2030.”

Aramis transport infrastructure for large-scale CO₂ reduction
The public–private partners of the Aramis project aim to develop an open access transport infrastructure that will enable a large-scale reduction of CO₂ emissions from hard-to-abate industries. The onshore part of the infrastructure is planned to be located on Maasvlakte within the Port of Rotterdam. From Maasvlakte, the CO₂ will be transported to platforms of various storage operators in the North Sea through the approximately 200-kilometre-long Aramis offshore trunkline. At the offshore platforms, CO₂ will then be injected by the storage providers into depleted gas fields where it can be permanently stored 3–4 kilometres under the seabed.

Next phase of infrastructure development
Entry into the technical design phase, also called FEED phase, is a key next step following successful completion of the conceptual design phase that started in 2021 after earlier feasibility studies. The main objectives of this phase are to establish the technical and project-specific requirements and the basic design, in alignment with the other ventures across the CCS value chain. A more accurate estimate of the project’s cost, duration and timeline is also made. Reaching this phase is a major milestone. Petrofac Facilities Management Limited has been selected to carry-out the technical design of the trunkline on the instructions of the Aramis partners.

CCS essential to achieving climate targets
The Netherlands faces a major challenge of meeting the goals of the National Climate Agreement. To achieve these climate targets, greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced to a targeted 60% by 2030 compared to 1990. One way to achieve this in the short term is through CCS. No other technology can achieve such large-scale CO₂ reductions within this timeframe. The government therefore considers CCS to be essential for achieving its climate targets.

The Aramis offshore trunkline will be designed to transport up to 22 million tonnes of CO₂ annually to be safely stored in various depleted gas fields under the North Sea. Such capacity would represent a significant scale-up from other CCS projects currently under development in Europe.

The set-up of the future Aramis joint venture as a legal entity (25% Gasunie, 25% EBN, 25% TotalEnergies, 25% Shell) is currently being planned by the Aramis partners and is still subject to regulatory approvals.

More information
If you have any questions, please telephone Marcel Hoenderdos, spokesperson for the Aramis project, on +31 (0)6 35 12 00 75.