In a major step to combat carbon emissions, Norway’s pioneering “Northern Lights project” is set to expand its carbon capture and storage (CCS) capabilities. Backed by energy giants and the Norwegian government, this collaborative project is working to increase its annual carbon storage capacity from 1.5 million to over five million tons.
Northern Lights focuses on capturing CO2 emissions from industrial sources across Europe and securely storing them underground. Captured CO2 will be liquefied and transported by ship to the storage facility located off the coast of Norway. It will be injected through pipes into geological formations about 2,600m below the seafloor of the North Sea. The primary goal is to prevent CO2 from entering the atmosphere, and thus alleviate the effects of global warming.
Although the first phase of the project was launched in September of last year, it won’t start operating until this summer, when CO2 from a Norwegian cement factory will be transported to the facility for storage. With a total investment of about US$683 million from the energy companies involved in the project and the European Commission, the expansion into the second phase is expected to be completed in 2028. This phase will focus particularly on decarbonizing cement and steel production.
Photo Courtesy of Ivy English 照片：常春藤解析英語提供
Northern Lights represents a significant advancement in CCS technology. Any leakage or failure in the storage sites could undermine the project’s credibility. However, if successful, the project will show what can be achieved when governments, regulators and industries combine their efforts to address climate change and its effects.
在對抗碳排的一項重大舉措中，挪威開創性的北極光計畫預計將能擴大其碳捕捉及封存能力。這項合作計畫受到能源巨頭和挪威政府的支持，正在努力增加其每年的碳封存容量，從原本的一百五十萬噸增加至超過五百萬噸。
北極光著重在捕捉來自歐洲各地工業來源的二氧化碳排放，並安全地將其封存在地底。捕捉到的二氧化碳會被液化，再用船運送至位於挪威外海的封存設施中。二氧化碳會透過管子被注入北海海底以下約兩千六百公尺的地質結構中。主要的目標是要避免二氧化碳進入大氣，進而減輕全球暖化的影響。
Photo Courtesy of Ivy English 照片：常春藤解析英語提供
雖然該計畫的第一階段於去年九月開始進行，但直到今年夏天才會開始運作，屆時來自挪威一間水泥工廠的二氧化碳將會被運送至設施中封存。該計畫中的能源公司以及歐洲聯盟執行委員會總共投資了約六億八千三百萬美元，擴展至第二階段的計畫預計於 2028 年完工。這一階段將會特別側重水泥及鋼鐵生產的脫碳。
北極光代表碳捕捉及封存技術的一大進步。封存地點的任何外洩或是失敗都會損害這項計畫的可信度。然而，如果成功的話，該計畫將會展現在政府、管理者和產業合作應對氣候變遷和其影響的努力下，能達到什麼樣的成就。
What Did You Learn?
1. What is the main objective of Northern Lights?
2. Which organizations have provided support for the two-phase Northern Lights project?
參考答案
1. To prevent CO2 from entering the atmosphere and alleviate the effects of global warming.
2. Energy giants, the Norwegian government and the European Commission.
Words in Use
1. combat vt. 對抗，打擊
In some countries, vending machines were pulled out of schools to help combat obesity.
在某些國家，為了幫助對抗肥胖問題，學校撤除了自動販賣機。
2. pioneering a. 開創性的，先驅的
Dr. Lee is famous for his pioneering work on cancer treatment.
李醫師以其對於癌症治療的開創性研究而聞名。
3. expand vt. 擴大，增加
expansion n. 擴展
Attending several clubs at school allows Colin to expand his personal network.
在學校參加多個社團讓柯林得以拓展人脈。
The company’s expansion into the international market will bring more opportunities.
該公司將業務拓展至國際市場，即將帶來更多機會。
4. annual a. 每年的
My uncle was diagnosed with diabetes during an annual physical checkup.
我叔叔在年度健檢中被診斷出糖尿病。
5. securely adv. 安全地
All documents were stored securely in a locked cabinet in the basement.
所有文件都被安全地鎖在地下室的一個櫃子裡。
Practical Phrases
1. gain / gather steam 加大馬力，聲勢增加
steam n. 精力；蒸氣
The political party gained steam after a widely praised televised debate performance.
那個政黨的電視辯論表現廣受讚賞，增加了聲勢。
2. be backed by. . . 受到……支持∕資助
The new trading program is backed by many companies in the manufacturing industry.
新的貿易計畫受到許多製造業公司的支持。
3. off the coast of. . . 在……的外海
An “oil spill” occurred off the coast of Alaska, raising environmental concerns.
阿拉斯加的外海發生石油外洩事件，造成了環境擔憂。
聽文章朗讀及講解: https://ivy.pse.is/455bfu
本文出自常春藤解析英語雜誌: www.ivy.com.tw
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