Earlier this week, leaders from Renew Europe visited Hellisheiði to learn how CO₂ mineralisation works in practice and to discuss the conditions required to develop similar projects across Europe. Renew Europe is one of the larger political groups in the European Parliament and plays a role in shaping EU policy and regulation. Such visits matter. They give policymakers the opportunity to see what has already been implemented and to discuss solutions based on real-world examples.

On the agenda was, among other things Silverstone, a project focused on implementing full-scale carbon capture and permanent storage at the Hellisheiði power plant. The project is built on collaboration between companies, research institutions and EU´s Innovation Fund, demonstrating how such partnerships must function in practice. With the development of Silverstone, the Hellisheiði power plant has become carbon neutral. Discussions also addressed how regulation and the broader public framework can keep pace with technological progress. Without this, it is difficult to build projects at the scale required.

“Regulation needs to evolve alongside innovation. To move a technology from concept to full-scale implementation, the public framework must support projects at every stage,” said Magnús Þór Arnarson, Project Manager for Silverstone. This is a key point, as the EU has set a target of permanently storing 50 million tonnes of CO₂ annually from 2030 onwards. Many such projects will therefore be needed to achieve that goal.

The group also visited a Carbfix injection well, where measurable climate impact takes place. CO₂ is dissolved in water and injected several hundred meters underground, where it flows through subsurface formations and is transformed into stone through natural chemical reactions.

We welcome the interest shown by Renew Europe and the constructive dialogue that took place on site. Such visits strengthen the connection between those shaping regulation and those developing and operating solutions, with the shared aim of further increasing impact. Photos: Veneta