Northern Lights
The world’s first full-scale carbon storage facility
Northern Lights is the world’s first CO2 storage facility and an important component in achieving climate targets internationally. The reception facility offers safe storage of CO2 from Norwegian and European industrial enterprises. The terminal receives liquid CO2 by ship. The CO2 is temporarily stored in large tanks and then pumped through a pipeline to a geological reservoir under the seabed. The facility is located in Øygarden – a rugged wilderness in the classic Vestland archipelago landscape.
LINK Arkitektur has designed the administration building and visitor centre which showcases the facility. LINK’s vision has been to create an appealing communication arena that inspires value-generating international interaction. The combination of an administration building and a visitor centre has resulted in a world-class arena for showcasing future storage projects. This is where students, delegates and researchers are welcomed and where the journey through the process of carbon storage begins.
Architectural profile
The facility is located in the classic landscape of the Vestland archipelago which is rugged and wild. Our concept – which spreads three wings in a fan shape – achieves an exciting architecture that is adapted to the natural geography and the need for separating the different functions of the building. The buildings cluster around a large rock in the archipelago, and all three wings protrude and hover over the cliffs. The wings include an administration and visitor centre with café and exhibition space. The project further consists of independent buildings for storage, a bicycle shed and a bus shelter.
The aim of the project has been to use natural materials both externally and internally that signal the project’s strong environmental profile and blend seamlessly into the landscape. This has resulted in a building with a clean, simple and aesthetic look.
Interdisciplinary collaboration
Equinor is the client managing the development on behalf of Northern Lights JV Northern Lights DA is owned by Equinor, Shell and TotalEnergies.
LINK and Multiconsult are the client consultants on site development and landscape adaptations, wharf and infrastructure as well as the buildings at the facility. They have assisted the client in all phases of the project – from the initial phase to the finished construction – and have ensured that the projects have been delivered seamlessly throughout the process.
The visitor centre was opened in October 2022 by Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
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