News and updates
Keep up to date with the latest news and updates about building CCS storage capacity in the Netherlands.
Shell Launch Store receives storage permit
June 2026
The Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate has granted Shell a permit for CO₂ storage in the K14-FA and K14-FC depleted gas fields under the North Sea.
Following the public consultation period, no objections were submitted, making this decision final. The permit is underpinned by extensive safety, environmental and technical assessments by the State Supervision of Mines and other independent experts, confirming that risks are minimal and manageable.
This marks an important milestone for Shell and the wider Aramis initiative. It is the first CO2 storage site connected to the Aramis project to receive a storage permit, enabling us — together with our storage partners (EBN, Rockrose & ONE-Dyas) — to take the next steps toward a final investment decision in 2027.
Next step in the permitting process for the L09 CO₂ storage project
April 2026
The Statement of Intent and Participation Plan (VenP) and the draft Scope and Level of Detail Note (c‑NRD) for the L09 CO₂ storage project have been published on the website of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
VenP and c-NRD
The VenP describes the proposed project and the set‑up of participation and information provision within the procedure.
The c‑NRD outlines which environmental aspects will be assessed in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and at what level of detail. This document forms the basis for the environmental studies in the next phase.
Permitting process
This publication marks an important step in the permitting process. Over the past year, the documents have been developed in close cooperation with the coordinating Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy. With this milestone, a concrete step is taken towards the development of additional CO2 storage capacity in the Netherlands.
Following K14‑FA2, L09‑FF‑2 will become Shell’s second CO2 storage location in the Netherlands and will be connected to the Aramis project infrastructure.
The published documents can be consulted via the website of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
Aramis Launch Stores project website goes live
August 2025
The Launch Stores project unveiled its official website today.
The website serves as a central hub for information on the development of the first two offshore CO2 storage sites within the Aramis carbon capture and storage (CCS) value chain. The project is a collaboration between TotalEnergies and Shell and has received financial support from the European Union’s Innovation Fund.
The website provides a comprehensive overview of the Launch Stores project and serves as the main portal for updates, background information and progress reports. This unveiling follows a major milestone reached earlier this year: the award of a €118 million grant from the EU Innovation Fund.
European Innovation Fund grant
The EU funding supports the development of two CO2 storage sites, L4A (TotalEnergies) and K14 (Shell), which together will demonstrate the viability of commercial-scale injection of liquid CO2 into depleted gas fields. This funding was awarded in recognition of the project’s innovative CO2 storage technologies, as well as its process and business case innovations.
CO2 storage capacity
The Launch Stores project, with a combined CO2 storage capacity of 5 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa), is key to building the Aramis CCS infrastructure. With an overall planned CO2 transport capacity of 22 Mtpa, Aramis will enable hard-to-abate industries across Northwest Europe to access a safe, reliable and effective emissions -reduction solution.
Major step towards 2030 climate targets
The funding also recognises the Launch Stores project’s potential contribution to meeting the 2030 climate goals set by the Dutch Climate Agreement and the EU Green Deal, particularly those outlined in the EU's Industrial Carbon Management Strategy and the Net-Zero Industry Act.
Visit the new website to learn more about the Aramis Launch Stores project — a collaboration between Shell and TotalEnergies — and discover how CO2 storage in depleted gas fields is helping drive large-scale CCS for a more sustainable future.
Shell intends to investigate CO₂ storage in aquifers under the Dutch North Sea
May 2024
Shell Offshore Carbon Storage NL (SOCS NL) has been granted an exploration license for the storage of CO2 in so-called saline aquifers under the North Sea.
Aquifers are saltwater-bearing layers in the deep subsurface that have the potential to store CO2. The aim of the exploration program is to find out whether aquifers could complement depleted gas fields as another means of CO2 storage in the Netherlands.
The exploration license covers almost 1500 km2 in the so-called P&O Blocks, which are located approximately 15 km off the Dutch coastline near the Maasvlakte. SOCS NL intends to investigate the storage of CO2 in aquifers in the Dutch part of the North Sea to help understand the costs of storing CO2 in aquifers and to develop the Netherlands’ expertise in this area.
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a technology that can help to achieve national and European climate goals. CO2 storage in saline aquifers is currently successfully carried out by Shell and others in places like Canada, Australia and Norway. At the moment, the Netherlands is working hard to develop the infrastructure to transport captured CO2 through Porthos, Aramis and the Delta Rhine Corridor.
Exploration license CO₂ storage granted to Shell
September 2024
After being awarded the exploration license for the so-called P&O blocks in May, Shell Offshore Carbon Storage NL (SOCS NL) has also been granted an exploration license for the K block aquifers.
Exciting news for the development of CO2 storage in aquifers in the Netherlands!
The exploration license covers an area of over 1200 km² in the Dutch North Sea (K08a, K10a, K11a, K12a, K13a, K14a, K14b, K15a, K15b, K17a) and is located approximately 100 km northwest of Den Helder.
CO2 storage in aquifers can make an important contribution to the Dutch and European climate targets. SOCS NL is working hard to develop a better understanding of the storage capacity in aquifers in the Dutch part of the North Sea.
Shell's first Aramis CO₂ storage field (K14FA) moves to next phase
November 2023
The K14FA store has reached the front-end engineering and design (FEED) stage – an important milestone which will progress the technical design of the store.
The K14FA store is part of Aramis Launch project scope and will be one of the first stores to receive CO2 once the Aramis transport system is expected to be operational in 2028.
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