Abstract A novel full height pilot plant has recently been built at SINTEF in Trondheim, Norway. The plant is designed by SINTEF and is based on the experience from building and operating two smaller pilot plants and long term research on absorption processes. The plant is erected inside a new 11 floor building giving full access to all parts of the plant and stable ambient conditions. This unique test facility has been erected as part of the SOLVit project, an eight years R&D program where SINTEF, NTNU and Aker Clean Carbon work together to develop novel solvents for CO 2 capture. In the plant the energy requirement and necessary absorber height might be demonstrated directly, and optimal loading and circulation rates may be found for the different solvents. Long-term degradation of amines and solvent replacement rate are also studied. The plant is designed for unmanned and remote operation. The layout provides flexibility with regards to operating conditions, and facilitates various design changes, if necessary, in a later stage of the project. The plant operation started with a base-case campaign with 30 wt% MEA in April 2010. Afterwards the new solvents in SOLVit will be tested. The results show so far show very good mass balances and a comparison with simulations gives very well accordance.