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Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
03.September.2025/Kiel/Reykjavik. Are basaltic rocks along continental margins suitable for the permanent and safe storage of carbon dioxide? This is the question a team of German and Norwegian researchers will be pursuing on board the research vessel MARIA S. MERIAN. Expedition MSM140 led by Dr Ingo Klaucke from the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel will investigate geological structures on the Vøring Plateau off the Norwegian coast until 9 October. The aim is to determine whether basalt formations below the seabed are suitable for the long-term geological storage of CO2. The expedition is part of the multinational PERBAS project.
Limiting climate change will require, in addition to strong reductions of emissions, the removal and safe storage of large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. One promising option for carbon capture and storage (CCS) lies beneath the seabed: in certain rocks known as basalts, CO2 could react naturally with water and rock to form carbonate minerals within just a few years, binding it permanently without the risk of leakage. Initial field trials in Iceland and the USA point in this direction. Could the widespread flood basalt formations along continental margins therefore play a role in future climate protection? That is what this expedition with MARIA S. MERIAN will be investigating off the Norwegian coast.
CO2 storage in flood basalts beneath the seabed
“Our central research question is: does the basalt below the seabed, in its properties and composition, have the potential to store CO2 permanently and safely?” explains Chief Scientist Dr Ingo Klaucke, a geologist at the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel. The expedition will provide us with the necessary data to assess the storage potential of rocks and lay the foundation for their geophysical monitoring.”
The potential could be vast: globally, basalt deposits beneath the ocean theoretically have a storage capacity of 40,000 gigatons – several times the current annual global CO2 emissions. This is why the expedition is named “Permanent sequestration of gigatons of CO2 in continental margin basalt deposits, CO2PR”.
Extensive lava layers off Norway’s coast
The cruise will focus on the Skoll High on the Vøring Plateau off the Norwegian coast, where cores from previous scientific drilling expeditions have indicated extensive lava layers. To determine the properties of the seabed rock, the researchers will employ high-resolution 2D and 3D surveying techniques, including reflection and refraction seismic as well as electromagnetic measurements. The resulting physical parameters, such as sound velocity and electrical resistivity, will then be fed into models to derive information on density and conductivity, and thus the rock’s storage potential. Artificial intelligence will support the data analysis. The aim is not only to identify suitable storage structures, but also to explore ways in which a future CO2 storage site could be monitored remotely – for example, using seismic or electromagnetic signatures that might indicate leaks.
En route to the study area, the team will deploy two ARGO floats northeast of Iceland to help closing a gap in the ocean observation network.
Fewer conflicts with other sea uses
With its contribution to the international PERBAS initiative, Expedition MSM140 is providing important foundations for developing flood basalts as CO2 storage sites. In addition to their sheer size and the potentially rapid and permanent fixation rates, such sites have the advantage of usually being far offshore and therefore less intensively used than the North Sea or other shallow shelf seas. Conflicts with other forms of use will likely be less frequent. However, the great distance from the coast would make implementation costly, as tankers would need to transport CO2 far out to sea.
Expedition at a glance
Name: MSM140 “CO2PR”
Chief Scientist: Dr Ingo Klaucke
Dates: 4 September - 9 October 2025
Start port: Reykjavik, Iceland
End port: Trondheim, Norway
Working area: Vøring Plateau, Norway
About PERBAS:
The international research project PERBAS (PERmanent sequestration of gigatons of CO2 in continental margin BASalt deposits) investigates how carbon dioxide can be permanently stored in marine basalt rock. The aim is to lay the groundwork for the safe and geologically stable storage of CO2 beneath the seabed – and thus contribute to the achievement of international climate targets. In addition to reducing emissions, large amounts of CO2 will need to be removed from the atmosphere in future and stored safely and permanently. Basalt formations are considered a particularly promising candidate for this: they enable the mineral conversion of CO2 into carbonate rock – a process that can be completed within just a few years.
In PERBAS, ten partners from science and industry in Germany, Norway, the USA and India pool their expertise. The GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel coordinates the project, which is funded with a total of 3.6 million euros over three years as part of the ACT (Accelerating CCS Technologies) initiative of the European Research Area Network (ERA-NET). The consortium’s goal is to systematically characterise potential storage sites in marine basalt rock, determine their geophysical properties, and scientifically underpin the technical feasibility and monitoring of future storage projects. The current research phase will be completed in summer 2026. After that, a CO2 storage experiment in flood basalts off the Norwegian coast is planned – but this will require the support and financial commitment of industry.
https://www.geomar.de/n9992 Images available for download
https://geomar.de/fileadmin/content/forschen/fb4/gdy/projekte/PERBAS/PERBAS_Fact... CO₂ storage in flood basalts beneath the seabed: options on a gigatonne scale (Fact Sheet, German)
https://www.geomar.de/fb4-gdy/projekte/perbas PERBAS Project website
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