Baker Hughes' Strategic Move: Acquiring Compact Carbon Capture Technology to Reshape Industrial Decarbonization

In a significant strategic acquisition, Baker Hughes (NYSE: BKR) has moved to bring Compact Carbon Capture (3C) into its portfolio, marking a decisive push into carbon capture solutions for carbon-intensive sectors. The energy technology giant is doubling down on its commitment to the energy transition, targeting industries from oil and gas operations to broader industrial enterprises seeking meaningful decarbonization pathways.

Why Compact Carbon Capture Technology Matters Now

The acquisition underscores a critical reality: carbon capture technology stands as one of the most pragmatic decarbonization approaches available today. Whether retrofitting established operations or building new greenfield projects, capturing CO2 emissions has become essential for industries pursuing 2050 climate targets. Compact carbon capture solutions can extract emissions from diverse sources and deliver substantial operational decarbonization for customers worldwide.

What sets 3C’s approach apart is its engineering innovation. Rather than relying on traditional solvent-based carbon capture using static columns, the company employs rotating bed technology—a modularized design that distributes solvents more effectively. The result: a footprint up to 75% smaller than conventional systems, combined with reduced capital expenditures. This compact design proves particularly valuable for brownfield retrofits and offshore installations, where space and cost constraints are critical factors.

Scaling Through Industrial Expertise

Baker Hughes brings over 100 years of rotating equipment expertise to the table, positioning itself to accelerate 3C’s commercial deployment globally. Lorenzo Simonelli, chairman and CEO of Baker Hughes, emphasized the strategic fit: “This agreement reflects our disciplined investment in energy transition. We’re developing a roadmap toward some of the industry’s most cost-effective carbon capture solutions per ton.”

Torleif Madsen, CEO of 3C, framed the partnership as a growth catalyst: “Baker Hughes’ brand strength and technological capabilities in the energy sector provide us the platform to expand our compact carbon capture offerings. We gain access to world-class turbomachinery, process solutions, and a global customer network—exactly what our long-term vision requires.”

Complementing an Existing CCUS Portfolio

The acquisition builds upon Baker Hughes’ established carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) portfolio, which already encompasses turbomachinery, advanced solvent-based capture processes (CAP), CO2 storage well construction and management, and digital monitoring systems. Adding compact carbon capture technology deepens the company’s end-to-end decarbonization capabilities.

Background: The Technology Behind 3C

Compact Carbon Capture AS emerged from a collaborative initiative involving Fjell Technology Group, Equinor, Prototech, and SINTEF. The underlying patent dates back to 1999, with extensive development cycles managed by Fjell Technology Group and Equinor between 2007 and 2017. The company was formally established in 2018 following a complete IP and know-how transfer. Based in Bergen, Norway, 3C continues advancing its technology alongside research partners including Equinor, Fjell Technology Group, Sintef, and Prototech, benefiting from Norwegian Government support through Climit. The company gained recognition as an Energy Innovation Pioneer by IHS Markit during CERAWeek in March 2020.

The agreement encompasses all intellectual property, personnel, and commercial agreements, with ABG Sundal Collier serving as advisors to 3C.