Operators of a carbon capture technology testing center now under construction named technology suppliers to participate in a technology qualification program for carbon dioxide capture at Statoil’s Mongstad, Norway, refinery northwest of Bergen.

A joint venture of the Norwegian government, Statoil, Sasol, and Royal Dutch Shell PLC hopes to demonstrate carbon capture on an industrial scale at the Technology Center Mongstad (OGJ, May 23, 2011, p. 14).

Companies selected to participate in the technology qualification program are: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Alstom Carbon Capture GMBH, Siemens AG, Aker Clean Carbon, and Huaneng-CERI Powerspan Joint Venture.

The technology qualification program intends to qualify at least one technology and demonstrate that it can be scaled up to industrial use.

The qualification program also intends to demonstrate that the technology meets health, safety, and environment requirements.

Statoil has emphasized the importance of TCM’s ability to show carbon capture systems work as envisioned without endangering people or the environment.

Successful results in the technology qualification program are expected to allow for a concept selection, including selection of technology, during first-half 2014.

Participation in the technology qualification program is intended to provide technology suppliers with an opportunity to demonstrate its technology for a full-scale plant at Mongstad.

Multiple vendors can bid on a front-end engineering and design contract based on the concept selected, and the final investment decision will be put forth to Norway’s Parliament in 2016.