Frequently Asked Questions

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is an industrial and commercial process that involves capturing carbon dioxide (CO₂) from industrial processes or power generation, collecting it at sites known as carbon hubs and then transporting it via ship or pipeline to be stored underground, typically beneath the seabed. This technology is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by securely storing the captured CO₂.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is essential for hard-to-abate industries such as cement, steel and chemicals because these sectors produce CO₂ through core industrial processes, not just from energy use.

Alternatives like electrification or hydrogen are often not viable at scale or cannot meet the technical demands of these industries. CCS enables significant emissions reductions without requiring the shutdown of long-lived infrastructure, making it a critical tool for meeting net-zero targets while maintaining industrial productivity.

The Launch Stores are offshore CO₂ storage sites developed by TotalEnergies and Shell as part of the Aramis carbon capture and storage (CCS) value chain. These sites aim to support Europe’s first open CCS market and contribute to EU and Dutch climate goals.

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Together, the Launch Stores will provide a CO₂ storage capacity of 5 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa).

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CO₂ is transported to an onshore hub at the Maasvlakte in Rotterdam, either via pipelines (in gas form) or by barges/coasters (in liquid form). From there, it is compressed and transported offshore through the Aramis trunkline to be injected into depleted gas fields under the North Sea.

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The project incorporates several technical innovations, including:
-    Friction-controlled dual-phase (FCDP) CO₂ injection for stable and efficient storage.
-    Load balancing across multiple wells to manage fluctuating CO₂ volumes.
-    Repurposing existing infrastructure and constructing new platforms designed for CO₂ storage.

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FCDP is a technique that manages the phase transition of CO₂ during injection to prevent extreme cooling and ensure stable storage. It keeps CO₂ in a liquid state for a longer period, allowing a gradual transition to gas within the well.

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The Aramis Launch Stores project is a collaboration between TotalEnergies and Shell, with support from Energie Beheer Nederland (EBN), Rockrose, ONE-Dyas and Harbour Energy.

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The Aramis Launch Stores are primarily funded by the project partners and supported by the European Innovation Fund, which recognises their potential to advance industrial decarbonisation and contribute to the EU’s climate objectives.

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The Launch Marketeer, a joint initiative by Shell and TotalEnergies, is responsible for contracting launching customers and marketing the 5 Mtpa CO₂ storage capacity.

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-    General enquiries: info@aramislaunchstores.com
-    Commercial enquiries: launch.marketeers@aramis-ccs.com
-    Media enquiries: media@aramislaunchstores.com