EU Backs Sirona Technologies Carbon Project
The European Commission has awarded a €9.1 million grant to Sirona Technologies for its new carbon capture facility in Norway.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Environmental
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The European Commission is supporting Project Furu with a grant of up to €9.1 million to advance Direct Air Capture and Storage technology. This initiative marks the first time the EU Innovation Fund has backed an air capture project.
Why it matters
The project is a significant step toward Europe's climate neutrality goals, utilizing hydropower to remove carbon dioxide that is stored permanently under the North Sea. By integrating with existing infrastructure, it aims to scale carbon removal to combat global warming.
Sirona Technologies aims to remove more than 100,000 tonnes of CO2 annually using units manufactured in Brussels. The project will leverage the Northern Lights infrastructure network to store liquefied carbon beneath the North Sea floor.
The players
European Commission
The executive branch of the European Union responsible for proposing legislation and managing the bloc's budget and funding programs.
Sirona Technologies
A carbon removal firm that develops modular Direct Air Capture and Storage units manufactured in Brussels.
EU Innovation Fund
One of the world's largest funding programs dedicated to demonstrating innovative low-carbon technologies and processes.
The details
The facility will be located in Norway, chosen for its proximity to storage sites and abundant hydropower. Units are built in shipping containers and transported from Belgium to the site, where they filter air to isolate, purify, and liquefy carbon dioxide for permanent underground sequestration.
Timeline
2027: The first units are expected to begin capturing CO2.
2031-2040: The EU target procurement window for carbon removal.
2050: The official EU deadline for achieving climate neutrality.
The Big Picture
This project follows the patterns set by the European Green Deal by funding industrial decarbonization. It signals a move toward state-sponsored carbon sequestration as a critical pillar for achieving regional climate targets.
Successful large-scale carbon removal could eventually provide a critical tool for meeting global temperature goals by lowering atmospheric CO2 levels. For the consumer, this may eventually influence the costs and regulatory standards surrounding carbon-intensive products and emissions offsets.
The takeaway
Direct air capture represents a growing industrial solution for high-emissions sectors struggling to reach net zero. Readers should monitor how regional subsidies shape the long-term economic viability of these emerging carbon-removal technologies.
What happens next
The first capture units are scheduled to become operational in 2027.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest innovations in the Environmental sector.
Source note: This article includes information reported by IO+.
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