At the IEAGHG Conference PCCC-8 in Marseille, the Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM) shared new insights on personnel exposure and sampling methods related to amine-based CO2 capture.
The study presented at PCCC-8 highlights how TCM combines advanced technology testing with strict safety monitoring to protect both people and the environment.
Decarbonising heavy industries is central to achieving the climate mitigation goals set out in the IPCC-6 report. Amine-based carbon capture is among the most mature technologies available today for reducing emissions from large industrial point sources. Since 2012, TCM has been at the forefront of testing and demonstrating both generic and proprietary solvents under industrial conditions.
A key part of this work concerns environmental and occupational safety. The process of removing CO2 from flue gas with amine-based absorption technologies introduces degradation products such as nitrosamines, which are classified as potentially carcinogenic. Early in TCM’s operations, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) assessed potential health risks and set strict safety thresholds. Since then, TCM has carried out extensive monitoring to ensure compliance and to safeguard personnel.
Findings from more than ten years of testing show that nitrosamines can be present during campaigns, but median and average background concentrations are very low—well below today’s occupational exposure limits. Both stationary and personal sampling methods have been applied to better understand exposure levels. Current research also aims to address uncertainties linked to sampling methods through new laboratory experiments.
“Protecting the health and safety of our personnel is a top priority,” said Alexander Reyes Andersson. “Our monitoring results show that exposure levels are generally low, but we continue to study this in detail to close knowledge gaps and ensure that carbon capture operations remain both effective and safe.”
By combining rigorous safety assessments with cutting-edge technology testing, TCM strengthens its role as a global hub for advancing carbon capture solutions—supporting both industrial decarbonisation and safe workplace practices.
Co-writer: Fred Rugenyi
At the IEAGHG Conference in Marseille, the Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM) presented new results from industrial-scale carbon capture testing and highlighted how machine learning can improve environmental monitoring.
The contributions reinforced TCM’s position as a leading test facility for accelerating global carbon capture solutions.
In one presentation, Industrial Scale Carbon Capture Technology Testing at Technology Centre Mongstad: Results using CESAR 1, TCM’s Koteswara Rao Putta presented results from large-scale testing of the CESAR 1 solvent. With global CO2 emissions continuing to rise—surpassing 40 billion tons in 2024—the need for proven and scalable capture solutions was underlined.
“Amine-based capture technologies remain at the forefront of carbon mitigation strategies,” said Putta. “At TCM, our mission is to systematically test, validate, and improve these systems so they can be deployed with confidence at commercial scale. By doing so, we help reduce technical, environmental, and financial risks for industry.”
The CESAR 1 campaigns at TCM provided crucial data for industry partners and research institutions alike, supporting the scale-up of capture systems from pilot to industrial demonstration. These efforts formed part of wider European collaborations, such as the AURORA project, aimed at bridging the gap between laboratory innovation and full-scale deployment.
A complementary presentation by Ahmad Wakaa focused on detailed learnings from more than 6,000 hours of CESAR 1 testing in 2020, including thermal reclaiming and emission monitoring during RFCC flue gas operations. The results demonstrated high efficiency in removing degradation products, metals, and heat-stable salts, with minimal solvent loss and strong capture performance.
“By combining operational experience with in-depth solvent analysis, we are able to document both the robustness and the limitations of advanced solvents like CESAR 1,” explained Wakaa. “This knowledge is vital for operators who plan to run capture plants reliably and sustainably over long periods.”
The presentation, Exploring Predictive Emissions Monitoring of Ammonia at TCM Carbon Capture Plant Using Open-Source Machine Learning Libraries, was delivered by Fred Rugenyi. This work explored how advanced data analytics can improve environmental performance by predicting solvent-related emissions, such as ammonia.
Using TCM’s extensive historical datasets and machine learning tools like Sci-kit Learn, the study compared different regression models to forecast emissions. The Random Forest model delivered the most accurate predictions, opening the door for smarter monitoring and mitigation strategies in real-world operations.
“Machine learning provides us with a powerful tool to understand complex plant behaviour,” noted Rugenyi. “By predicting emissions, operators can take preventive action to reduce environmental impacts while improving plant reliability.”
Together, these presentations underscored TCM’s role as a global testbed for carbon capture innovation, advancing both process technology and digital solutions that will be vital for achieving net-zero ambitions.
A recent scientific study provides new insights into how the promising CO2 capture solvent CESAR1 degrades under industrially relevant conditions.
CESAR1, a blend of 2-amino-2-methylpropanol (AMP) and piperazine (PZ), was originally developed in the EU project CESAR and has since been widely tested, including at the Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM). It has shown strong performance with lower energy use and higher stability than traditional benchmark solvents such as monoethanolamine (MEA).
The study, led by Vanja Bruvik from SINTEF, investigated degradation pathways of CESAR1 under oxidative and thermal stress. Using advanced liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry, the researchers identified and quantified 48 different degradation compounds, including 15 that had not previously been reported for AMP, PZ, or CESAR1.
One key finding is that CESAR1 degrades more rapidly than its individual components, with oxidative degradation proving to be the most critical factor. Compounds such as formic acid, formaldehyde, and N-nitrosopiperazine were detected under oxidizing conditions, while several other degradation products were formed at elevated temperatures. Importantly, some degradation pathways observed in laboratory tests correspond closely to results from pilot-scale operation at TCM, strengthening the relevance of the findings for industrial application.
At TCM, CESAR1 has been tested extensively under real flue gas conditions, and the new results contribute directly to ongoing projects focused on emission monitoring and solvent stability.
As the global need for CO2 capture grows, studies like this help pave the way for more robust and sustainable technologies that can play a crucial role in reaching climate targets.
On Thursday, 21 August, the Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM) welcomed a distinguished visitor once again: Masud Gharahkhani, President of the Storting and holder of Norway’s second-highest public office after the King, arrived at the facility.
Masud Gharahkhani came to learn more about CO2 capture, and there could hardly have been a better guide than TCM’s managing director, Ismail Shah.
Accompanying the President were Rune Bakervik from Bergen and Kamilla Bjerkholt Kleppe from Fedje, who are second and seventh on the Labour Party’s candidate list in Hordaland for the upcoming parliamentary election on September 8. Also present were Acting Mayor of Alver, Nina Bognøy, and Deputy Mayor of Austrheim, Per Lerøy. In addition to the TCM hosts, Equinor Mongstad was represented by Senior Manager for Asset Development & Climate, Sissel Nepstad, and Greenspot Mongstad by Project Manager, Einar Vaage.
During the visit, Ismail Shah explained the fundamentals of CO2 capture and underlined the role TCM has played in testing and verifying capture technologies that are already in use — or soon will be — at full-scale plants both in Norway and abroad.
“Both of the capture facilities that are part of the Longship project use technologies we have tested. The capture plant at Heidelberg Materials’ cement factory in Brevik started in June, and a similar one will be coming at Hafslund Celsio’s waste-to-energy plant at Klemetsrud. But we must continually improve the technologies and reduce the costs of CCS in order to accelerate deployment. This is what we work on every day at TCM,” Shah emphasized.
The President of the Storting was enthusiastic about what he learned.
“This has been very educational! I have long understood the important role TCM plays in addressing climate challenges both nationally and internationally but experiencing the operations ‘live’ makes an impression that strengthens this understanding. I’m cheering for you!”
Gharahkhani also highlighted the potential impact of TCM’s expertise in reducing local CO2 emissions at Mongstad. He stressed that with an active industrial policy and long-term framework conditions, industry can gain the predictability it needs to make the necessary climate investments.
After presentations and discussions in TCM’s administration building, the President of the Storting and his delegation were given a guided car tour of the test centre and refinery before continuing on to Knarvik for further engagements.
Both TCM’s leader, Ismail Shah, and the President of the Storting share an immigrant background. In 1987, at the age of five, Gharahkhani fled Tehran, Iran, with his family, where his father had been a well-known politician. After time in an asylum reception centre, the family settled in Skotselv, Øvre Eiker, Buskerud.
After completing secondary school, Gharahkhani trained as a radiographer and worked at Blefjell Hospital in Kongsberg and Rjukan. His political career began in the Buskerud County council before he became the Labour Party’s group leader in Drammen’s city council. In 2017, he became a permanent Member of Parliament, and four years later he was elected President of the Storting — the first person with an immigrant background to hold the position.
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) could stimulate the development of existing and new industries at Mongstad.
With world-leading expertise at the Mongstad Technology Centre (TCM) and ambitious plans for industrial transformation, the region is facing a turning point that could define its industrial future.
Together with TCM, Greenspot Mongstad organized a meeting during Arendalsuka on how zero emissions can become a reality in Norwegian industry. Mongstad’s industrial sector alone accounts for approximately 3.5 percent of Norway’s total CO2 emissions. In his presentation, project manager Einar Vaage outlined ongoing initiatives to tackle this major challenge.
Mongstad Industrial Park currently hosts 3,500 full-time positions across 63 companies, primarily in oil- and gas-related operations. It serves as the supply hub for 23 offshore platforms in the North Sea. Behind these large numbers, however, lies a challenge: Equinor Mongstad emits around 1.6 million tonnes of CO2 annually – equivalent to 3–3.5% of Norway’s total emissions.
According to Vaage, the solution is to renew the industry and create new activity that both secures jobs and reduces the climate footprint.
Vaage highlighted two main initiatives that could reshape Mongstad in the coming years:
Linked to these new industries, we are already seeing development and establishment of both new and existing supplier environments.
According to Vaage, carbon capture and storage is absolutely essential for a successful transformation.
The plan is to increase the concentration of CO2 at Mongstad by attracting industries such as steel production and SAF, which will contribute millions of tonnes of CO2. This will make it economically viable to build a pipeline to the Smeaheia field in the North Sea – both to manage current emissions at Mongstad and to transport CO2 from other regional actors.
“To address today’s emissions, we actually need more CO2 – which is why the expertise offered by TCM is so incredibly important,” Vaage emphasized.
During the subsequent debate, both the acting mayor of Alver, Nina Bognøy, and the county mayor of Vestland, Jon Askeland, voiced their support for the plans.
Bognøy recalled Mongstad’s history: “It’s been 50 years since we forcibly emptied a village of its people. We cannot abandon Mongstad now. We owe it to the community to secure new industries there – which is also important for the region and for the country.”
Askeland highlighted Norway’s opportunity to lead: “The bigger you are, the more you must do, and those with the most must contribute the most. Norway has the knowledge and resources to take the lead. TCM is an international star, and the Mongstad refinery has already contributed to emissions reductions multiple times through the delivery of flue gas to TCM and ongoing technology development.”
He expressed a strong desire for faster action: “We are close to large storage reservoirs in the North Sea. I hope we can soon link TCM and the refinery so that we can eliminate greenhouse gas emissions once and for all.”
With a combination of established industry, new green technologies, and political will, Mongstad could become a hub for green transformation. CCS sits at the heart of this transition – not just as a climate tool, but as a prerequisite for creating new value.
If these plans are realized, Mongstad could, within the next decade, transition from an emissions source to a model for industrial climate solutions, both in Norway and internationally.
About 100 participants boarded the “Vestlandsbåten” on 12 August at Arendalsuka, when Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM) and Greenspot Mongstad hosted presentations and debate on the future of CCS.
Arendal: – Almost half of the revenue generated by the Norwegian cement industry comes from public-sector purchasing. Although the government quarter and Bane NOR’s new workshop in Drammen are to be constructed using low-carbon cement, examples like these remain rare. At a recent Arendalsuka debate, speakers emphasised that public procurement must play a much stronger role in requiring products based on CCS.
Heidelberg Materials, Europe’s largest cement supplier, is also the first to join a complete CCS value chain through the capture facility launched at its Brevik plant in June, as part of Norway’s national Longship CCS initiative.
Pia Prestmo, the company’s Public Affairs Manager, was clear about the public sector’s responsibility:
“Whether it is cement, steel, or fertilizer, the financial viability of low-carbon solutions must be strengthened. Boardrooms are waiting for one signal — that the risk is low enough to justify building a facility in their sector. They need assurance that climate-friendly products will become standard goods.”
“CCS is absolutely necessary to avoid catastrophic global warming,” emphasized Eivind Berstad, head of the CCS team at Bellona. “This is the technology that is hardest to replace, so we are completely dependent on it. But CCS needs an extra push, which is why we are so focused on it.”
Berstad noted that momentum for CCS increased when the focus shifted from power generation to industry. “In Europe, there is now strong momentum to make it happen. Politically, a concrete strategy is being set, funding is being allocated, and oil and gas companies must commit to providing storage capacity.”
He argued that Norway lacks a framework for CCS development. “What is needed is billions in the state budget for carbon capture and storage. Authorities must ask industry about volumes so that infrastructure can be planned, and Norway must participate in the European effort requiring oil companies to provide storage capacity already by 2030.”
Kristine Karlstad, Vice President Sustainability at Hydro, noted that since 1991, the company has cut emissions by 55% while increasing production at its five Norwegian smelters by 40%. However, she explained that the CO2 content in exhaust gases from aluminium production is low, and effective capture technologies are not yet available.
“We have picked the low-hanging fruit, and now the hardest part remains. We must work with research and development, testing, and prioritization before we can implement CCS at our plants.”
SINTEF has been working on CCS solutions since 1986. Its Director of Sustainability, Nils Røkke, highlighted the value of its Trondheim test facility as a partner to TCM for near full-scale trials.
“You could have bought a car in 1900, but cars are undoubtedly better in 2025. The modern car could not exist without that history. Over the decades, we have reduced energy use in carbon capture by 25% and eliminated amine-related emission issues — proof of how strong collaboration between research and innovation has delivered full-scale solutions.”
Looking ahead, Røkke underlined the need for storage capacity, CO2 delivery systems, and transport solutions adapted to the North Sea’s temperature conditions. “In short,” he said, “we need workable specifications that balance risk and cost.”
Since its inception in 2012, TCM has tested 17 different technologies. Managing Director Ismail Shah noted that nearly all full-scale CCS plants built or approved worldwide have used technologies tested at TCM.
“For it to be cheaper for industry to capture CO2 than to release it, we must lower costs. That means advancing research, development, and demonstration in parallel with building more capture facilities. The more we build, the easier it becomes to find solutions that work across industries. Risk reduction must cover technical, environmental, and commercial aspects.”
State Secretary Astrid Bergmål from the Ministry of Energy praised TCM’s role: “The work at Mongstad to test, verify, and demonstrate CO2 capture technologies on a large scale is world-class and central to our CCS efforts.”
She emphasized that Longship is not the end of Norway’s CCS ambitions: “The government wants to facilitate the continued growth of the CCS market, where industry finds good commercial solutions. Any new policy instruments must be well-targeted and enable industry-driven solutions. That is what we are working on now.”
Bergmål added that the government is also working to find a solution for more commercial operation of TCM with reduced state support.
From June 17–19 nearly 500 carbon capture, transport, and storage (CCS) professionals from 31 countries convened in Trondheim, Norway, for the 13th Trondheim CCS Conference (TCCS-13).
As one of the field’s most prominent scientific events, the conference TCCS-13 offered a key platform for presenting cutting-edge research, exchanging knowledge, and discussing new projects across the CCS value chain. Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM) was once again well represented and made strong contributions throughout the conference.
Attending on behalf of TCM were Muhammad Zeeshan, Principal Researcher Environment/HSE, and the CO2 Capture Technologists Sundus Akhter, Dimitrios Siozos, and Ticiane Oliveira. Also present the operation shift Leader Kathrine Sætre, the laboratory engineer Karen Høisæter and the master student and current TCM intern Tochukwu Ogbu. In addition to attending various scientific sessions, the team actively contributed through oral and poster presentations and participated in co-authored work with leading research institutions.
One of the conference highlights was the oral presentation by Muhammad Zeeshan and Sundus Akhter. We shared recent findings from our work at TCM on CESAR1 solvent chemistry. “We clearly noticed more people approaching us after the presentation, wanting to learn about our projects and even explore possible collaboration or visits to TCM,” said Zeeshan and Akhter.
Additionally, a poster authored by Tochukwu Ogbu and Muhammad Zeeshan on developments in LCMS lab methods attracted a great deal of interest. The TCM team also contributed as co-authors on several other presentations, including one on CESAR1 solvent reclaiming with collaboration with SINTEF as part of the ongoing Horizon Europe project – Aurora. Their involvement underscored the centre’s active engagement across both scientific and operational aspects of CCS.
Another oral presentation co-authored by 3 TCM members and delivered by UMONS university addressed the European funded MOF4AIR project results. TCM was one of the testing sites for the adsorbent-based technology producing valuable results in the field and drawing significant attention and led to increased interest in TCM’s work from other participants.
Importantly, TCM’s engagement extended beyond presenting. The centre was also represented in the conference’s peer-review process, with Zeeshan serving as a reviewer for several abstracts. This contribution reflects TCM’s trusted role in evaluating and shaping CCS research worldwide.
Beyond the technical sessions, TCM participants used the opportunity to engage in valuable networking with researchers and industry experts from across the globe — including countries such as the UK, France, the UAE, and Austria. “There was strong representation from the Gulf countries this year, and it was encouraging to see growing CCS initiatives being developed in those regions,” noted Ticiane Silva de Oliveira.
TCM’s delegation also included employees from operations and the lab, highlighting the centre’s commitment to cross-disciplinary learning and continuous knowledge development.
In summary, TCCS-13 not only reaffirmed TCM’s position as a trusted voice in the global CCS community but also helped strengthen existing relationships and lay the groundwork for new partnerships and innovation in the years ahead.
Main photo: SINTEF
“If politicians are to reach their goal of a 70–75 percent reduction in emissions by 2035, we must accelerate carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects”, says Muhammad Ismail Shah, Managing Director of TCM.
This is why TCM are inviting people to what might be the most exciting and forward-looking debate at Arendalsuka on Tuesday, August 12.
Together with Einar Vaage, head of Greenspot Mongstad, Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM) is challenging politicians, academia, and industry to a debate titled “Zero Emissions in Norwegian Industry – Vision, Reality, or Delusion?“.
The event will take place on the “Vestlandsbåten” from 1 PM to 2 PM, with André Kopperud Gill, a partner at PwC, serving as moderator.
Shah himself will present what TCM has achieved after 13 years as a platform for testing and developing effective CO2 capture technologies. He also has clear ideas about how this knowledge can be used to accelerate the transition to zero emissions in industry – both nationally and internationally.
Within this context, Longship plays a key role – the project that demonstrates the full-scale CO2 capture and storage value chain. But then comes the difficult question: What will it take for more Norwegian industrial companies to invest in CCS?
“To get closer to an answer, we have invited Kristin Karlstad, who is responsible for sustainability at Hydro, to share the company’s ambitions and projects. The role of the government in strengthening initiatives and concrete investments in CCS will be addressed by State Secretary Astrid Bergmål from the Ministry of Energy. All in all, we hope and believe it will be an educational session – an event that leaves participants a little wiser. Welcome aboard the “Vestlandsbåten” in Arendal on Tuesday, August 12”, concludes Muhammad Ismail Shah.
At the end of April 2025, Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM) launched a four-month test campaign of the advanced CESAR1 solvent as part of the EU Horizon-funded AURORA project.
The goal of the AURORA project: to demonstrate that this non-proprietary solvent technology is ready for commercial use in industry—and early results are promising.
As the world’s largest and most advanced CO2 capture test facility, TCM is a key hub for developing and qualifying carbon capture technologies essential to decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors such as waste-to-energy, natural gas-fired power plants, refineries, and coal-fired power plants. At the heart of this effort is the non-proprietary solvent CESAR1, now undergoing testing at Mongstad in collaboration with the AURORA project – led by SINTEF—which aims to revolutionize carbon capture across multiple industrial sectors.
“Our main task in this campaign is to fill knowledge gaps and qualify CESAR1 for full-scale industrial use,” says Koteswara Rao Putta, Technical Services Lead and Projects Coordinator at TCM. “This means documenting performance, stability, and environmental impact under realistic conditions—not just in the lab, but in operational environments that reflect what industry actually faces.”
Over the four-month campaign, the team at TCM is evaluating both the performance and environmental impact of CESAR1 under various operating conditions, including variable loads, different flue gas compositions, and challenges such as NO2 contamination.
TCM first tested CESAR1 in 2019, but that campaign revealed several operational challenges. “We learned a lot at that time and used those insights to improve both the processes and instrumentation,” says Putta. “Now we’re seeing that CESAR1 delivers higher capture efficiency while keeping environmental emissions very low. That’s a crucial step toward commercial deployment.”
The current campaign includes testing with flue gases from a wide range of industrial sources—such as RFCC (refinery gas), waste-to-energy plants, and the metals processing, recycling, cement, steel, and iron industries—and will later include smelters, hydrogen production, and gas-fired power plants.
“One of the most valuable experiences so far has been seeing how CESAR1 handles different types of flue gas impurities,” he explains. “For example, we recently conducted a long-duration test under high NO2 conditions, which is particularly relevant for the cement sector. This gives us important insights into solvent degradation and process optimization.”
Facts about the AURORA Project
Based on open technology, available for global development and use
Led by SINTEF, one of Europe’s largest independent research institutes
Funded by the EU Horizon Europe program
Goal: Qualify CESAR1 for commercial use
Target industries: Cement, refineries, materials recycling
Solvent-based CO2 capture is a flexible and well-established method that can be adapted to many different emission sources. CESAR1—developed as an open and non-proprietary solution—stands out for its high efficiency, low emissions, and significantly reduced energy demand compared to conventional solutions like MEA (monoethanolamine).
“Having CESAR1 as an open technology means the results can be shared and further developed,” says Putta. “That enables more players, including academia and start-ups, to contribute to improvements and adaptations. This is how we build the future of carbon capture—together.”
Key demonstration highlights for CESAR1 include:
A central ambition of the campaign is to generate results directly applicable to industrial use. TCM has therefore tested CESAR1 under real-world conditions, including load variations, contaminants, and both high- and low-concentration CO2 streams.
“We designed the tests to cover many possible operational scenarios—from full load to partial operation, and with large variations in flue gas composition,” says Putta. “This mirrors the real world, where conditions are rarely perfect.”
In the coming weeks, TCM will test flue gases simulating smelters and natural gas power plant CO2 concentrations—including scenarios resembling those in UK and US industrial clusters—as well as flue gas with very low CO2 concentrations, typical of the aluminum industry.
Midway through the campaign, in July, TCM will also test advanced control strategies developed by Cybernetica, a partner in the AURORA project. The goal is to demonstrate how automated systems can help industry bring CO2 capture plants to stable operation faster, adapt to changing conditions, and reduce operational costs.
“These control systems will make the process more robust and adaptable, even under unpredictable conditions,” says Putta. “It’s about building confidence for investment and lowering operational risks.”
The campaign will conclude toward the end of August, and the results will serve as a foundation for broader deployment of CESAR1 in industry—supporting start-ups, research institutions, and other developers aiming to advance the technology.
“We’re very pleased so far. The results are strong, the collaboration is close, and we see this becoming an important piece in the puzzle to make carbon capture more accessible and reliable—with reduced risks for many more industries,” Putta concludes. “This isn’t just research—it’s laying the groundwork for real change.”
Are you ready to take the next step in your carbon capture and storage (CCS) journey?
Kick-start your professional development in 2025 by joining our comprehensive CCS training course, jointly delivered by Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM) and DNV, two global leaders in the field.
🗓 Date: September 11–12, 2025
📍 Location: Mongstad, Norway (transport from Bergen provided)
🎓 Format: 2-day in-person training, including guided site and lab tours
🚀 Build expertise across the full CCS value chain
From capture to storage, learn from two institutions at the forefront of global CCS deployment.
🔬 Gain in-depth technical insights
Explore cutting-edge technologies and real-world learnings from recent flagship projects.
🏭 Experience TCM’s world-class facilities
Tour the world’s largest open-access CO2 capture test centre, including our amine plant and the Site for Emerging Technologies.
👨🏫 Learn from top industry experts
Our instructors bring decades of practical and strategic CCS experience.
🤝 Expand your network
Connect with peers from industry, government, and academia driving the decarbonization transition.
This course is ideal for professionals from:
💼 General registration: GBP 2,000 (excl. VAT)
➡️ Enrol now or register your interest to receive more details
This is a one-off opportunity to gain practical CCS knowledge at the world’s premier CO2 capture site. We hope to see you in Mongstad this June
