Denmark starts construction of large carbon storage terminal

The groundbreaking ceremony for a new carbon dioxide (CO₂), which represents a significant step towards the country's goal of developing carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The terminal is part of the Danish Greensand Future project, which aims to reduce CO₂ using CCS technology. Once completed this year, the Esbjerg terminal will serve as a major infrastructure hub for the transport and storage of liquefied CO₂ and is expected to help achieve Denmark's national climate targets and contribute to the development of CCS capacity in the region.

"This is a key milestone for the Greensand project and an important step in building a complete CCS value chain. Carbon capture and storage will be critical to achieving climate goals," He said Mads Gade, CEO of project operator INEOS Energy Europe.

The terminal is designed to house six large tanks, each capable of storing approximately 1,000 tonnes of liquefied CO₂. CO₂ will be collected from Danish biogas plants and transported by truck to the terminal in Esbjerg for temporary storage.

After the tanks are filled, the liquefied CO₂ loaded onto a vessel and transported to the INEOS Nini platform in the Danish North Sea. From there, it will be injected into geological formations located at a depth of approximately 1 800 metres below the seabed for long-term storage.

The project entered the commercial phase in December 2024, when INEOS and its partners made the final investment decision. The total investment is expected to exceed DKK 1 billion (over CZK 3 billion).

According to the European Commission, 250 million tonnes of CO₂ ...yearly. CCS is also considered necessary to achieve Denmark's net zero emission targets in 2045.

According to experts, Danish geological conditions in the North Sea are suitable for storing CO₂ particularly appropriate. If the country captures five percent of the European CCS market, it could create up to 9,000 jobs and generate revenues of DKK 50 billion (roughly CZK 180 billion).

Xinhua/gnews.cz - GH