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The University Centre in Svalbard with the support of the town council work for a vision. That vision is to turn Svalbard into a community that takes care of its own emissions. |
The community of Longyearbyen has over the years offered great advantages as a test site for carbon storage. It is these qualities that give Svalbard the potential to become a global show case: |
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Longyearbyen (population 2000) is a small community with a closed energy system, not linked to the energy system of mainland Norway.
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The main source of energy in Longyearbyen is coal. Svalbard has Norway’s only coal fuelled power plants. The 10 MW power plant also delivers heating to the town buildings.
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Svalbard has geological structures that can be utilized for subsurface deposition of CO2. The storage site is on land and accessible by road, only 5 km from Longyearbyen.
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Studies of sub-surface structures near Longyearbyen will benefit storage projects elsewhere. Knowledge and competence acquired may be utilized in industrial projects internationally.
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Longyearbyen CO2 lab is well suited for research, education and monitoring activities, as the site is on land near community infrastructure and accessible all year round.
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Svalbard is one of the best preserved wilderness regions in the world. Let’s work together to keep it that way. |
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