The report, a collaboration between the University of Bergen, Unifob, Bergen University College and Christian Michelsen Research, was actually intended to identify the areas in which research and development environments in Bergen have greatest competence that could be relevant to the Mongstad development.

“But when we look into a matter like this, it is clear that we have to see things in a bigger picture than just Mongstad. We need to develop technology for capturing and handling CO2 that will enable others, not just rich countries, to utilise it. In that case, we are looking at a much longer perspective than the milestones in connection with the Mongstad development, i.e. 2010 and 2014,” emphasises Geir Anton Johansen, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences.

Mongstad: A laboratory
The Mongstad development has been a highly controversial issue, politically speaking. A lot will depend on whether researchers manage to develop the technology that is necessary to achieve the ambitious climate goals that have been set.

“We regard Mongstad as a potentially important laboratory for us. It is near us geographically, it has put CO2 capture and handling on the map and it will be an important arena for a more long-term development programme for this type of technology,” says Mr Johansen.

Great competence in Bergen
”Everyone who is engaged in technology development at this level knows that a longer-term perspective than this is necessary.  Here, we really are talking about the equivalent of a moon landing, and that will require a huge effort. And we already have considerable competence in Bergen with respect to the whole value chain involved here, from capture to storage. And we are world leaders when it comes to storage,” says Mr Johansen.

He points to the many challenges that remain before the controlled disposal problems, for example, can be solved. Peter M. Haugan, professor and head of the Geophysical Institute, pointed to some of these problems in an article in the local newspaper Bergens Tidende a while ago. The problems are not exclusively related to the price level.

“Here, it is also a question of how safe the disposal is, and the danger of leakages and what effect such leakages will have on the marine environment and, ultimately, on the global climate. We also have great competence in this field in Bergen, in the marine environment,” he emphasises.