By Richard Humphreys |
Norwegian engineering firm Aker Solutions has partnered with Microsoft to combine AI, engineering and digital monitoring capabilities to accelerate the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon dioxide removal (CDR) projects. Carbon capture helps to neutralise hard-to-avoid industrial emissions and supports global net-zero climate goals.
Aker Solutions will work with developers, emitters, transport and storage providers, industry stakeholders and governments to support project development, reduce execution risk, strengthen investment readiness, including potential CDR credits and accelerate progress towards final investment decisions.
The collaboration combines Aker Solutions’ techno-economic advisory services and end-to-end engineering, procurement and construction capabilities with Microsoft’s expertise in digital technologies, data, AI and more. As CCS and CDR projects develop, Aker Solutions and Microsoft will provide integrated engineering and execution support, offering developers a single pathway from early-stage feasibility through to operations.
“Many carbon capture and removal projects face similar challenges as they move from concept to reality,” said Kjetel Digre, CEO of Aker Solutions. “As the market matures, success will depend on strong collaboration across the value chain. Joining forces with Microsoft, we aim to help project developers navigate complexity, strengthen business cases, and support the next wave of CCS and CDR projects.”
Darryl Willis, corporate vice president of energy and resources at Microsoft, said: “Microsoft supports collaborations that look holistically across the entire value chain, connecting physical infrastructure with trusted data, AI and digital measurement, reporting and verification to help projects reduce risk, and move from ambition to execution. We are working with Aker Solutions to bring these complementary capabilities together and help accelerate credible CCS and carbon removal projects globally.”