Technology Centre Mongstad: capturing the future of global decarbonisation

The dramatic surroundings of fjords, heathlands and coastal wildlife reinforce what is at stake. Carbon capture has become an essential tool for hard‑to‑abate sectors, and Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM) gives innovators an industrial setting to test, verify and improve their solutions.

Established in 2012, TCM is a public-private partnership between Gassnova (on behalf of the Norwegian state), Equinor, Shell and TotalEnergies, whose mission is to develop, test and verify CO₂ capture technologies for wide-scale application.

TCM has built one of the world’s most comprehensive knowledge bases for carbon capture, adhering to an open-source strategy and supporting project developers and researchers around the world. Key achievements include open test campaigns using non-proprietary solvents (MEA and CESAR-1), the world’s first emissions permit addressing health risks from amine-based CO₂ capture, and more than 70 scientific publications.

“Multiple long-term test campaigns have been conducted using open-source technology, and their results have been shared publicly. Our test centre is globally renowned for its publications that address both the benefits and the challenges of carbon capture,” says Shah.

The facility includes an amine plant, a chilled ammonia plant and a dedicated site for emerging technologies. This combination gives companies the ability to test a broad range of capture solutions under real industrial conditions.

Located next to Equinor’s refinery at Mongstad, TCM has access to two live flue gas sources with CO₂ concentrations ranging from 4 to 15 per cent. The two main plants have a combined annual capture capacity of around 100 000 metric tons. The emerging technologies site can capture up to 18 000 metric tons per year.

More than 4 000 online instruments and extensive manual sampling points ensure precise operational control and high‑quality data. Companies use this information to validate process models, optimise plant designs and reduce risks before deploying large-scale capture projects.

Carbon capture requires detailed understanding of chemical reactions, emissions management and system behaviour. TCM supports companies not only by testing their technologies, but also by sharing knowledge on emissions control, energy efficiency and process optimisation. This helps companies to identify the right questions to ask – which is often a key to success.

“At Mongstad, you find expertise that you cannot find anywhere else in the world. The nature around us here is fantastic. I believe it's very important to conserve nature so that future generations can enjoy it too,” says Hilde Bergum, Administrator at TCM.

TCM continues to play a vital role in Norway’s Longship project – the country’s full-scale carbon capture, transport and storage (CCS) value chain. Through operational training, troubleshooting and data sharing, the centre helps project developers prepare their facilities for commissioning and long‑term performance.

“It’s very rewarding to be a part of something that can change the world,” says Process Operator at TCM, Even Rikstad. “We are working to develop technologies that can help to solve the climate crisis we are now facing.”

With global demand for carbon capture increasing, Norway is a trusted partner for companies seeking to scale solutions safely and reliably. TCM is just one of Norway’s unique offerings in the field of CCS, along with vast industrial know‑how, stable partnerships and infrastructure designed for cross-border collaboration.