DNV, Equinor, TotalEnergies Launch Phase Two of Low-Pressure CO₂ Shipping Project
DNV, Equinor and TotalEnergies have launched the second phase of a joint industry project to advance low-pressure CO₂ transport by ship, aiming to support large-scale carbon capture and storage deployment.
(P&GJ) — DNV, Equinor and TotalEnergies have launched the second phase of a joint industry project aimed at advancing low-pressure carbon dioxide transport by ship, a key component of scaling carbon capture and storage (CCS) infrastructure.
The second phase of the CETO (CO₂ Efficiently Transported via Ocean) project will focus on generating experimental data to support the development of CO₂ product specifications for low-pressure, ship-based CCS transport. The work is intended to reduce technical risk across the transport chain by improving understanding of CO₂ composition, impurities and material interactions under shipping conditions. The project is supported financially by Gassnova through Norway’s CLIMIT program.
Shipping CO₂ is viewed as a critical option for CCS value chains where capture sites and storage locations are not directly connected by pipeline. While pipelines remain effective over shorter distances, maritime transport is expected to play a central role in enabling large-scale deployment of CCS across regions.
The launch of phase two follows the completion of CETO’s first phase in July 2024, which demonstrated that low-pressure CO₂ shipping is technically feasible and suitable for early deployment. However, the partners concluded that a dedicated product specification for low-pressure CO₂ is still needed, as specifications directly influence system design, materials selection and operational reliability.
During phase two, the project will carry out experimental testing to calibrate prediction models used for defining CO₂ specifications. The research will focus on chemical reactions and acid solubility limits in CO₂ streams, improving understanding of how impurities behave under low-pressure shipping conditions.
“Better understanding of the risks related to different types of CO₂ compositions is essential to further develop low pressure CCS value chains. Data available on the topic is limited, so the CETO II project will work to fill the knowledge gaps in the industry. Having a means to cost-effectively transport large volumes of CO₂ is vital to scaling the use of CCS as an emissions reduction solution, and the outcomes of this project will help to identify the specifications needed to support reliable and robust low-pressure CO₂ shipping operations,” said Erik Mathias Sørhaug, Business Development Director CO₂ Shipping at DNV.
“We are pleased to continue the good collaboration with TotalEnergies and Equinor and hope new potential partners will find the JIP attractive. With additional partners onboard, we will be able to expand the scope even further to include other key topics related to CO₂ carrier design and operation,” Sørhaug added.
Ola Terjeson Miljeteig, Vice President for CCS Solutions in Equinor, said: “Equinor realizes the importance of low pressure ship transport as a competitive concept for CO2 transport and storage solutions. Investigating chemical reactions between the impurities in the CO2, as well as acid solubility in CO2 at ship transport conditions is key to be able to set a product specification for LP CO2. This JIP will give important contributions to that.”
Renaud Maillard, Vice President CO₂ Techno Hub at TotalEnergies, said: “At TotalEnergies, we aim to advance innovative CO2 capture and storage solutions through our dedicated Strategic Research & Technology Program. The second phase of CETO, focused on helping define robust CO2 specifications for low-pressure ship transport, will be a key contribution in enabling safe and efficient pathways for the industry. We are pleased to continue this collaboration with our partners.”
The CETO project is funded by its industry partners along with Gassnova through the CLIMIT-Demo program.