Project Kirkenær, the first permanent geological CO2 removal initiative by Norwegian developer Carbon Centric, has cleared a key milestone with the successful completion of the Puro.earth Preliminary Assessment.
The validation confirms that the project’s design, monitoring methodology, and lifecycle assessment align with established standards for engineered carbon dioxide removal, positioning it for future certification and the issuance of permanent carbon removal credits.
The project will install a carbon capture facility at Solør Bioenergi’s combined heat and power plant, approximately 130 kilometers north of Oslo. The CHP plant currently incinerates treated wood waste, including railway sleepers and demolition wood, to provide district heating to municipal buildings, commercial clients, and local industry. Carbon Centric’s capture system will focus on flue gas from the plant’s largest boiler, removing an estimated 32,000 tonnes of biogenic CO2 annually. The captured CO2 will be purified using amine-based technology and transported by a licensed operator to permanent geological storage.
Independent assessment by Puro.earth confirms that Kirkenær’s methodology is consistent with leading market standards for engineered carbon dioxide removal. This preliminary validation is essential not only for project credibility but also for its financial and operational risk profile. Market analysts note that independent verification at an early stage is increasingly critical for securing investment, insurance coverage, and long-term off-take agreements for carbon removal credits.
Leveraging an operational CHP plant reduces the need for new biomass combustion facilities while enabling immediate CO2 removal at scale. The combination of bioenergy with carbon capture allows the project to produce both renewable heat and verified negative emissions, addressing decarbonization gaps in municipal energy supply and industrial heating sectors.
Kirkenær’s progress coincides with Carbon Centric securing a long-term carbon dioxide removal agreement with DNV, reinforcing project bankability ahead of the planned final investment decision in 2026. This alignment of technical validation and commercial agreements reduces financial risk, creating a stronger foundation for eventual full-scale deployment and permanent certification.
