WHITE PAPERS FOR A GREEN TRANSITION

Carbon capture,
utilisation, and
storage
Picking the high-hanging fruits of CO2 mitigation

INSIDE THIS WHITE PAPER

Explaining carbon capture,

utilisation, and storage at its core

The prospects of a strong ecosystem

Unlocking the full potential of

large-scale CO₂ mitigation

The future of carbon capture

Connect. Inspire. Share. Think Denmark stateofgreen.com

2024 POLICY UPDATE – CARBON CAPTURE, UTILISATION AND STORAGE

Updates on CCUS
policy in Denmark

Denmark’s government harbours ambitions to not only achieve

carbon net-neutrality but also actively promote global net-
negative emissions targets. At COP28, Denmark initiated the
establishment of the ‘Group of Negative Emitters’ (GONE),
a pioneering alliance that includes countries committed to
achieving net-negative emissions, showcasing Denmark’s
commitment to leading global climate efforts.

Cross-border collaboration agreements on CO₂ transport options. Final decisions on exploration licences are anticipated in
Denmark has actively pursued and secured agreements for CO₂ 2024, marking a crucial step in Denmark’s strategy to enhance its
transport and storage with several countries, including Sweden, CO₂ storage infrastructure.
Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. These agree-
ments are integral to developing an infrastructure for carbon Coastal storage permits
capture and storage (CCS) across Northern Europe, creating Denmark is actively exploring potential coastal areas for carbon
a functional market for CCS in the region. The collaboration storage for the sites ‘Inez’, ‘Lisa’, and ‘Jammerbugt’. The planning
encompasses CO₂ transportation and the use of underground for exploration permits for these sites is currently in progress.
storage facilities, demonstrating a commitment to fostering the Following thorough consultations on the new maritime plan,
development of the CCS industry. Notably, the Aalborg Declara- which are expected to be completed during 2024, the Danish
tion, signed in Aalborg in 2023, further emphasises the Danish government plans to open applications for permits to explore
ambitions in advancing these initiatives and enhancing regional these areas. This consultation process is part of Denmark’s
cooperation in CO₂ transport and storage solutions. comprehensive approach to responsibly expand its CO₂ storage
capabilities, ensuring that environmental and regulatory frame-
Land storage permits works are effectively integrated with stakeholder feedback.
In December 2023, the Danish Energy Agency began the applica-
tion process for companies to seek permits to explore potential
underground CO₂ storage sites in specified onshore areas,
including Gassum, Havnsø, Rødby, Stenlille and Thorning.

These exploration licences are initially valid for up to six years

but can be extended to ten years. Successful applicants will
receive priority for storage permits, potentially lasting up to
30 years, if the sites meet all environmental criteria. By the
110%
The Danish government aims to achieve a 110 percent
application dead­line in January 2024, the Danish Energy Agency emissions reduction by 2050 compared to 1990 levels
had received more applications than areas available, reflecting
industry engagement and readiness to develop these storage

ADDITION TO STATE OF GREEN CARBON CAPTURE, UTILISATION AND STORAGE WHITE PAPER
2024 POLICY UPDATE – CARBON CAPTURE, UTILISATION AND STORAGE

Offshore storage permits

Notable developments within the area of offshore carbon storage

PHOTO: PROJECT GREENSAND

include the awarding of offshore storage exploration permits in
2023 for the “Greensand” project to a consortium led by INEOS
and Wintershall Dea, and the “Bifrost” project to TotalEnergies.

The Greensand and the Bifrost projects aim to store up to 8 and

5 million tonnes of CO₂ per year by 2030 in the Danish North
Sea respectively, illustrating a significant scale-up in Denmark’s
offshore storage capabilities.

CO₂ capture and storage tenders and funding

In Denmark, three subsidy pools exist to kick-start the industry
and ensure cost-effective greenhouse gas reductions within the
area of Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage. The three pools
are known as the CCUS, NECCS and CCS subsidy pools. The
CCUS and the CCS pools support the capture of both fossil and
biogenic CO₂ , with a support period of +20 and 15 years respec-
tively, while the NECCS pool focuses exclusively on biogenic CO₂
with a shorter eight-year term to allow for flexible use of the CO₂
in for example green fuels.

The CCUS subsidy pool of DKK 8 billion was awarded to Ørsted

for its projects at the Asnæs and Avedøre Power Stations, aimed
at reducing 0.4 million tonnes of CO₂ annually from 2025/2026.

The tender under the NECCS subsidy pool was awarded to the
different projects under BioCirc CO₂, Bioman ApS and Carbon
Capture Scotland Limited. These projects collectively will ensure
the capture and storage of 0.16 million tonnes of CO₂ annually Ensuring responsible CCS implementation
from 2026 to 2032, which is equivalent to the annual CO₂ absorp­ The Danish regulatory framework for CCS ensures activities align
tion from approximately 16,000 hectares of forest. with stringent environmental and safety standards. CCS ­projects
fall under the Environmental Assessment Act, requiring full
The next tender rounds for the CCS subsidy are offering a com- environmental assessments (VVM) to evaluate potential impacts.
bined pool of approximately DKK 27 billion and are expected in Effective risk management and continuous monitoring are also
June 2024 and in 2025. imperative for CCS projects to uphold environmental and safety
standards. International standards guide operators in implement-
ing robust risk mitigation strategies, which are scrutinised and
approved by regulatory bodies.

These measures include comprehensive monitoring ­program­­-

mes covering everything from CO₂ injection to storage integrity,

34 million
ensuring early detection of any anomalies and prompt corrective
actions to prevent environmental harm or safety risks. ­Ongoing
monitoring and periodic surveys using advanced seismic im-
aging techniques are essential to assess storage integrity and
A new Danish agreement from 2023 will see a total of 34 detect any potential CO₂-leakage. These surveys are carefully
million tonnes of CO₂ stored over 15 years starting in 2029. regulated to minimise environmental impact, with strict condi-
tions imposed on survey activities to protect both marine and
terrestrial ecosystems.

ADDITION TO STATE OF GREEN CARBON CAPTURE, UTILISATION AND STORAGE WHITE PAPER
COLOPHON

CARBON CAPTURE, UTILISATION, AND STORAGE

Picking the high-hanging fruits in CO2 mitigation

Version 1.0
November 2022

FRONT PAGE PHOTO

Unsplash

EDITOR IN CHIEF
State of Green

EDITOR IN CHARGE
State of Green, [email protected]

CONTRIBUTERS

The Danish Energy Agency, Henrik Sulsbrück, [email protected]

The Danish Energy Agency, Morten Skovgaard Olsen, [email protected]

Innovation Center Denmark v/UM, Camilla Sofani Bartholdy, [email protected]

Invest in Denmark, Charlotte Katrine Melchiorsen, [email protected]

Green Power Denmark, Michael Madsen, [email protected]

Green Power Denmark, Vibeke Højberg Strebøl, [email protected]

Confederation of Danish Industry, Henrik Skou, [email protected]

Confederation of Danish Industry, Stella Bücker, [email protected]
CCS Alliancen, Finn Lauritzen, [email protected]

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CARBON CAPTURE, UTILISATION, AND STORAGE

Executive summary

Containing the global rising temperatures to a 1.5 degrees

increase requires lowering the CO₂ concentration in the
atmosphere drastically. There are many talks to be walked
in decarbonising society. Some need to be addressed
individually, and others necessitate collaboration -
collaboration across value chains and borders. With carbon
capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS), leaps can be taken
and barriers can be broken.

Partnerships spurring collaboration across borders

With the Danish tradition of conducting public-private partnerships and high levels of societal trust, the recipe for a proven
way of devising solutions to sustainable development challenges successfully is written. It has been followed before with
the rise of the international offshore wind industry. Those learnings and guiding principles can prove valuable once again in
developing CCUS as an international opportunity that can support a global green transition.

.. and across the full value chain

Denmark has experience in all corners of the CCUS value chain; from highly efficient combined heat and power plants,
waste-to-energy facilities, and an energy-efficient industry, to a strong transport sector, district heating grids for utilisation
of excess heat, and cutting-edge technology providers. Denmark also boasts a world-known track record for research and
development, helping new industries well underway. To execute it all, great attention is put towards educating a skilled labour
force, ensuring a transition that is both green and just. But we are not quite there yet.

Renewable solutions for green ambitions

Denmark is blessed with an underground that has previously been exploited for oil and gas. With the government
putting an end to the extraction, and optimal conditions for storing CO₂ in the same oil and gas fields, the way is paved
for Carbon capture and storage (CCS). Denmark has a high share of renewable electricity, which is crucial for the pro-
duction of green hydrogen. Together with the aforementioned Danish competencies across the energy value chains,
Denmark has a great foundation for utilising CO₂ (CCU) in the production of e.g. e-fuels and plastics. Combine a recipe
that works with cutting edge prerequisites with an ecosystem that has more than 50 years of experience, and the world
has a New Nordic industry emerging.

About this white paper

This white paper sets the scene with a global burning platform. All reliable science points to decarbonisation of the atmos-
phere as the key solution to transitioning towards a more sustainable society. It takes the reader chronologically through the
fundamental value chain and presents how and why Denmark is geared to advance a green transition and mitigate CO₂ hard-
to-abate emitters, to the benefit of both the planet and the people who inhabit it.

3
Carbon capture, utilisation
and storage – deep
decarbonisation of society
BY EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT FRANS TIMMERMANS, EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Russia’s brutal and unjustified war in Ukraine has created towards energy carriers like green hydrogen, and targeted
an unprecedented situation on Europe’s energy market, changes to permitting procedures will enable the necessary
with soaring energy bills that are increasingly problematic acceleration in rolling out wind, solar, and other renewables.
for households and businesses across the continent. The
energy crisis requires our immediate attention, but as we While the EU is quickly turning the page on fossil fuels,
focus on the problems at hand, we must not lose sight of our carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) projects
horizon. The climate and biodiversity crises are here, and remain building blocks on our way to climate neutrality.
they will not go away simply because there are other urgent By 2030, 5Mt of CO₂ should be removed annually from the
issues to address. Every Member State has committed to atmosphere and permanently stored through technologi-
make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050 and cal solutions. With CCUS projects funded by the Emissions
to deliver our contribution to keeping the global temperature Trading System-based Innovation Fund and a dedicated
increase limited to 1.5 degrees. plan on “Sustainable Carbon Cycles”, European support
for CCUS has grown over the years. The Commission is
With REPowerEU, the European Commission set out our currently working on an EU regulatory framework for the
response to Putin's weaponisation of energy. The plan certification of carbon removals, to develop robust and
ensures the EU becomes independent from Russian fossil transparent carbon accounting rules. This proposal, which
energy while still delivering on our climate commitments. is expected for the end of this year, will ensure that carbon
Alternative supplies, higher energy savings and, above all, removals are credible and have the desired effect.
a massive acceleration in the deployment of homegrown
renewable energy are at the centre. Europe’s green transition requires safe and sustainable
CCUS to reduce CO₂-emissions from hard-to-abate and
In several ways, REPowerEU changes the playbook for energy-intensive industry processes, and to remove carbon
Europe’s energy transition. In the immediate future, certain from the atmosphere. With renewable energy as the pillar
Member States will use more coal than projected. Gas, on of our energy transition and CCUS technologies to comple-
the other hand, is losing its role as a transition fuel. EU-wide ment this transition, we can create new business oppor-
targets for energy efficiency and renewables are set to higher tunities and make both the European energy system and
levels than previously proposed, more funding is channelled economy more resilient.

Frans Timmermans
Executive Vice-President, European Commission

4
CARBON CAPTURE, UTILISATION, AND STORAGE

A match made in the

Danish underground
BY KRISTOFFER BÖTTZAUW, DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE DANISH ENERGY AGENCY

CCUS is a core technology in the Danish green transition The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and
on the road to Denmark’s 70 percent reduction target, and the Danish Climate Council point to CCUS as an important
onwards to climate neutrality by 2050. At the same time, means of fulfilling the Paris Agreement. Both because it can
utilisation and storage of CO₂ has the potential to ensure a help decarbonise hard-to-abate emissions, and because it
just transition by supporting employment in the same local can remove CO₂ from the atmosphere through the capture
areas, and for some of the same professional groups, as the and storage of biogenic CO₂.
oil and gas sector previously provided.
International partnerships are key
The Danish ecosystem has unique conditions for captur- It is not small things that are needed. According to the
ing, utilising, and storing CO₂. The Geological Survey of International Energy Agency (IEA), by 2060 we must capture
Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) calculates that the Danish and store more than 100 billion tonnes of CO₂ in total to meet
subsoil can contain up to 22 billion tonnes (GT) of CO₂. This global climate and energy goals.
corresponds to between 500 and 1000 years of total Danish
emissions at the current level - more than enough for other Denmark accounts for 0.1 percent of global CO₂ emissions.
countries to exploit as well. In driving the global path to net zero, Denmark’s national
efforts can offer great inspiration. Inspiration that stands on
Turning an old technology into an evergreen the shoulder of societal efforts, underlining why public-pri-
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is neither an unknown vate collaboration is essential in the quest to develop tech-
nor untested technology. On the contrary, for well over 100 nologies, policies, and partnerships to accelerate the green
years, technologies that can capture CO₂ have been used. transition. That is why we share our experience from the
Since the 1920s, the air has been purified of CO₂ in sub- Danish energy transition with 24 countries across the world.
marines and since the 1960s in spacecraft. By utilising the By partnering with some of the world's biggest emitters,
captured CO₂ (CCU) - combining it with green hydrogen and fastest-growing economies, we put our expertise to use
– e-methanol and e-kerosene can be made for fuelling our where it holds the greatest impact. We focus our efforts on
heavy industry, maritime fleet, and aviation. Green hydrogen Danish core competencies within energy transition.
can be made with clean power from wind turbines through
the electrolysis of water. This whitepaper shows how Denmark is geared to reap the
benefits of carbon capture, utilisation, and storage, and how
the efforts can drive the green transition globally by working
together.

I hope you will feel inspired.

Kristoffer Böttzauw
Director General of the Danish Energy Agency

5
Index

Explaining carbon capture, utilisation, and storage 8

Policy regulations: developing the framework 10

Capturing CO₂ from the most energy-efficient emitters 12

Driving innovation and development with public-private partnerships 15

Connecting the dots with a developed modern infrastructure 18

Utilising CO₂ 20

Storing CO₂ 24

Attracting foreign talent and developing business opportunities with CCUS 28

6
CARBON CAPTURE, UTILISATION, AND STORAGE

FIGURE 1

The carbon capture, utilisation, and storage value chain

The value chain is not explicit for the whole sector and this whitepaper presents just a range of the capabilities

EMITTERS – CO₂ CAPTURE TECHNOLOGY PROVIDERS

• Energy production: biogas (BECCS), biomass (BECCS), waste to
energy (BECCS), coal (not biogen CO₂), oil (not biogen CO₂) -
Capture directly from the chimneys
• Heavy industry: cement, iron and steel, sugar, refineries,
chemical sector - capture directly from the chimneys
• The atmosphere - Direct Air Capture

INFRASTRUCTURE
• Pipeline connection above- or underground, onshore or offshore
• Transport by ships
• Ground transport by trucks or train

UTILISATION
• Biological transformation to carboxylic acid and
ingredients to fodder and foods
• Chemical transformation to polymers, fuels,
building materials, solvents

STORAGE
• Geological: depleted oil- and gasfields,
salt water reservoirs, caverns
• Mineral: storage in mineral products e.g. concrete
• Biological: storage in biological material e.g. reforestation
• Biochar: charred residual biomass

7
CHAPTER 1

Explaining carbon
capture, utilisation,
and storage (CCUS)
CCUS is the process of collecting/capturing (C) waste
carbon dioxide (C) and transporting it to a site, where it
is either used (U) for alternative purposes or stored (S)
in geological formations.

The purpose of CCUS is to prevent the release of large the maritime fleets of the future. When utilising the captured
amounts of carbon dioxide (CO₂) into the atmosphere, but CO₂, the CO₂ is recycled and thereby prevents other emis-
also to make biogenic CO₂ a valuable green commodity. sions from fossil fuels. CO₂ is already a valuable commodity
and today the world uses 230 million tonnes (Mt) of CO₂
Today, carbon can be captured from the smoke from indus- from fossil fuel sources each year, according to the Interna-
tries and from heat and power plants and waste-to-energy tional Energy Agency.
facilities, or it can be separated from biogas plants instead of
being emitted into the air. What picking the high-hanging fruits means
When referring to picking the ‘high-hanging fruits’, it is be-
One way of capturing CO₂ is to conduct it through long pipes cause many of the ‘low-hanging fruits’ in the green transition
down to a liquid, which, among other substances, consists have already been picked. Denmark has more than 50 years
of additives that help absorb the CO₂ in the liquid. Once the of experience doing just that. In particular in the sectors that
CO₂ has been absorbed in the liquid, it can be separated and can be retrofitted or directly electrified with relative ease.
utilised for alternative purposes, or stored underground –
onshore or offshore. CCUS is a key enabler of deep decarbonisation of the
hard-to-abate sectors/the high-hanging fruits. They include
Storing CO2 transportation, agriculture, and heavy industry such as
Storing CO₂ is done by pumping the carbon into the many cement and chemical production.
small cavities of the underground, while the above clay layer
acts as a lid. As stated earlier, the Danish underground can Those who have the greatest prerequisites, hold the great-
store between 500 and 1000 years of the total Danish emis- est responsibility. That is why Denmark and other countries
sions at the current level. are aiming to make CCUS a viable solution to meet global
climate ambitions.
CO2 utilisation
If the captured biogenic carbon is put to use, it can be
synthesised into green fuels, which can fuel aircrafts and

8
CARBON CAPTURE, UTILISATION, AND STORAGE

FIGURE 2 - EXPLAINING CCUS

Carbon capture, utilisation, and storage

CCUS involves the capture of CO2 from large point sources, such as power generation
or industrial facilities that use either fossil fuels or biomass as fuel. The CO2 can also
be captured directly from the atmosphere. If not being used on-site, the captured CO2
is compressed and transported by pipeline, ship, rail or truck to be used in a range of CO2
applications, or injected into deep geological formations which can trap the CO2 for utilisation
permanent storage.

CO2 CO2
excess heat capture transport

CO2 CO2
onshore storage offshore storage

Adapted from Technical University of Denmark (DTU)

9
CHAPTER 2

Policy regulations:
developing the framework
for a new industry
A marked-based, technology-neutral pool
and stable framework conditions will leapfrog
CCUS technology and innovation.

With the Danish Climate Agreement for Energy and Industry were also set aside to support CO₂ capture from biogenic
of 22 June 2020, the Danish Parliament decided that the sources. In the fund of the Danish Green Tax Reform, EUR 2.4
capture, utilisation, and storage of CO₂ is an important piece billion was allocated to CCS.
in achieving Denmark's climate policy goals.
Support in two phases
A market-based, technology-neutral pool was established to The support will be divided into two phases. The first phase
promote the CCUS. The pool is planned to be phased in from will be implemented in the short term to kick-start the mar-
2024 and ultimately amounts to EUR 109.5 million annually. ket. The incentives will support the emitters’ investments in
developing the facilities to capture the CO₂ they emit.
With the Climate Agreement, it was decided to establish
central framework conditions supporting the development of In connection with the realisation of the CCUS pool in
CO₂ capture, transport, utilisation, and storage in Denmark. phase two, it will be investigated how the utilisation of
At the same time, the agreement helps to ensure a stable CO₂ can contribute to the climate goals. In March 2022,
framework for a new industry in Denmark, and to ensure the parliament agreed upon a Power-to-X strategy, which
that society gets a share in any potential gains when shared addresses the use of CO₂ for developing green hydrogen
resources are used. based solutions.

A national strategy paves the way for development Forward-looking framework conditions for CO₂ storage
In the agreement, it is defined that the two sub-agreements Increasing demand for CO₂ storage capacity is expected
in the national CCUS strategy from June and December in Northern Europe, and here the Danish underground
2021 must prepare permits for storing CO₂, from 2025 for can contribute significantly to the Danish and European
Denmark to be a potential international buyer of captured climate goals. To share any future gains from CO₂ storage,
CO₂ in the first disbursement of the incentives. the state will become a co-owner of permits for Danish
CO₂ storage. At the same time, taxing CO₂ storage, includ-
With the CCUS strategy, the framework is set for disburs- ing that which takes place in the Danish part of the North
ing EUR 2.2 billion in public funds. Through the green Sea, will become possible.
sub-agreement under the Finance Act, EUR 269 million

10
CARBON CAPTURE, UTILISATION, AND STORAGE

FIGURE 3

Vision of CO2 reductions towards 2050 and beyond

With the right political support and societal acceptance, Denmark may contribute to reducing CO2 globally, while at
the same time building business potential. Denmark has a massive opportunity to store tonnes of Mtpa CO₂. CCU is
still a relatively immature and costly technology. However, ongoing research and development will make it gradually
more important as a substantial contributor to the 2050 net-zero target. Denmark has the potential to build a busi-
ness case on conversion of imported CO₂ into valuable products that can be exported.

CO2e mtpa

DK storage potential

DK emissions CO2 import

2030 2050

Year

DK storage to DK utilisation to DK utilisation

reach climate goal reach climate goal potential

Adapted from The INNO-CCUS Partnership

11
CHAPTER 3

Capturing CO₂ from

energy-efficient emitters
Any pathway to mitigate climate change requires a reduction
of CO₂ emissions. Carbon capture holds part of the key to
drive CO₂ emissions to zero and beyond.

While some action has already been taken to mitigate cli- CO₂ from biogenic sources
mate change, most of the action has been focused primarily Sources of biogenic CO₂ cover plants using sustainable
on eliminating emissions, e.g. by improving energy efficiency biomass, biogas plants, and biogenic waste. In other words,
or electrifying processes with renewable electricity. How- biogenic CO₂ originate from biological sources and are
ever, to achieve the goal of climate neutrality, there is the included in the natural carbon cycle. Hereby, the biogenic
debatable need to remove substantial (gigatons) amounts CO₂ becomes valuable for several uses: It can be removed
CO₂ from the atmosphere every year for decades to come. completely from the atmosphere by storing it in the under-
ground (negative emissions) or it can be used to avoid CO₂
Carbon capture technologies capture CO₂ either directly emissions in other sectors by transforming the CO₂ into
from the atmosphere or at a point source of emission. The valuable climate-neutral products such as green fuels and
most efficient way to capture CO₂ is from carbon point green plastic.
sources such as heat and power plants, waste-to-energy
facilities and industrial plants as the concentration of CO₂ Denmark has great potential to lead the development and
at a point source is much higher than in the atmosphere. implementation of carbon capture as several biogenic
Depending on the origin and use of the captured CO₂, the carbon point sources are located in Denmark. However,
captured CO₂ can either result in climate-neutral emissions shortages of CO₂ supply are expected in the future, as the
or even climate-negative emissions. demand for carbon storage and utilisation is increasing, and
the supply of CO₂ from point sources is decreasing due to
CO₂ from hard-to-abate sectors optimisations and decommissioning of power plants.
Hard-to-abate sectors include industries where complete
decarbonisation is prohibitively costly or technically impos- Capturing CO₂ from point sources is a first and important
sible based on currently available technologies. Emissions step towards climate neutrality. Yet, the point sources alone
from these industries are often related to the physical pro- will not drive the world's CO₂ emissions to zero. Therefore,
cesses themselves, e.g. when limestone is transformed into new ways of capturing CO₂ from the atmosphere must be
cement. By capturing CO₂ from these processes, it becomes developed and matured rapidly and within the next decade.
possible to make hard-to-abate sectors climate neutral. In Denmark, research in direct CO2 capture is ongoing but
it is still in its infancy and on a low technological readiness
level. Several larger research investments in Denmark are
aiming to change that.

12
CARBON CAPTURE, UTILISATION, AND STORAGE

FIGURE 4

CCUS matrix
CCUS is a proven technology with the potential to reduce emissions from hard-to-abate sectors. Depending on the source and
the usage of the CO₂, the technology can either help remove carbon from the atmosphere, make heavy industries carbon-neutral
or be a platform for producing carbon-neutral products such as green fuels and green plastic.

Storage of biogenic CO₂ Storage of fossil CO₂

CO₂ negative CO₂-neutral

Carbon capture
and storage (CCS)

Biogenic CO₂ for CCU Fossil CO₂ for

Green CO₂-neutral products CO₂-emitting
for displacing CO₂

Carbon capture
and utilisation (CCU)

13
CASES

Photo credit: Amager Resource Center

Carbon capture with net-zero

energy consumption
In 2021, the waste-to-energy facility Amager Resource Center (ARC), in Copenhagen, established the CONTRIBUTORS
first pilot plant for carbon capture in Denmark. The primary purpose of the plant was to test carbon cap-
ture technologies and to reduce the net energy consumption needed for the carbon capture process. Amager Resource Center,
This is done by focusing on energy optimisations of every step in the process and integrating it into the Danish Technical University,
district heating production at ARC. The aim is to achieve the cheapest possible carbon capture. Rambøll, Pentair, EUDP, Green
Power Denmark
At the end of 2022, the pilot plant will be followed by a demonstration plant that is able to capture 500 kg
CO₂ every hour. The demonstration plant will simulate a full-scale plant and hereby provide knowledge
and experience in relation to operation and maintenance.

14
CARBON CAPTURE, UTILISATION, AND STORAGE

CHAPTER 4

Driving innovation and

development with public-
private partnerships
Public-private partnerships are a hallmark of the Danish
way of turning climate change measures into policies,
tangable climate action, and long-term commitments.

Since the 1970s, Denmark has had a tradition of enacting for cooperation between public and private stakeholders
agreements with broad consensus across the political spec- is pivotal. Both financial perspectives and business model
trum on energy and environmental policy issues. perspectives depend on regulatory frameworks which are
determined by the government. Efforts to reduce risk and
Effective public-private partnerships have allowed changing uncertainty have a positive effect on the willingness to in-
Danish governments to enact regulations and programs vest, the access to capital and steer the focus towards R&D
with the support of business and industry, ensuring suc- and infrastructure in the industry.
cessful implementation and adherence. While the public
sector provides the ambitious long-term goals and stable A thriving science environment
framework conditions, the private and academic sector When it comes to research and development in green tech-
supplies the innovation, solutions, and investments needed nologies, the rewards of a whole-of-society approach also
to achieve the visions. Among other significant achieve- stands out. Today, Denmark boasts several companies that
ments, it was this public-private synergy that paved the way hold global leading positions in the energy and environment
for a global wind industry that has put Denmark on the green industries, and no other OECD country displays a similar
world map. development of green technology measured in patent
applications.
50 years of experience
Through 50 years of working across professional bounda- The centre of the green transition
ries, Denmark has learnt that effective sector integration re- Being neither a silver bullet nor a standalone, the Danish
quires a pragmatic approach and an experimental mindset. story is simply a testimony that trust, continuity, and binding
But even more crucial, it comes back to stability and trust. commitments are paying dividends. As such, it speaks loud
and clear to the power and potential of placing public-pri-
Commercialisation of CCUS requires developing a new vate partnerships and global cooperation at the centre of the
infrastructure, where an inter-sectorial, long-term model green transition.

15
CASES

LONG-TERM PERSPECTIVE 2050

Strategic storage potential of 20-50 Mtpa CO2,
integrated with PtX/Utilisation
MEDIUM-TERM PERSPECTIVE 2030 • CCUS as a key element for achieving
negative emissions
National infrastructure and economies of scale • Competitive advantage to Danish process
• CCU Subsidiary system in place industries and society
SHORT-TERM PERSPECTIVE 2025 • Capture facilities of 1-4 Mtpa • Deep sector integration
• On- and offshore storage capacity 8-16 Mtpa • Flexible operation
Demonstration facilities for CCUS • Temporary storage for PtX/Utilisation • Full commercialisation of transport value chain
• Regulative framework in place • Non-liquid storage (immobilisation) • Strategic position gained to provide
• Investment and incentives in place • National and international infrastructure of 10 Mtpa millennium-scale storage of CO2 for Europe
• CCS Subsidiary system in place • Zero-emission shuttle ships
• Capture demonstration facility of 0,5 Mtpa • 20 percent reduction in CAPEX
• Offshore storage demonstration facility of 1-2 Mtpa • 5-10 SMEs
• Storage of 1 Mtpa in existing gas storage site • Educational framework enhancing the
• Near-shore/onshore storage pilot recruitment of talent worldwide
• Utilisation demonstration facility • Societal readiness
• Infrstructure for transport level 9 for CCS
• R&D for cost reduction and optimisation
• 15-30 Danish start-ups
• Talent recruitment and research career
• Societal readiness level 6 for CCS

Credit to: The INNO-CCUS Partnership

The Green CCUS Roadmap:

towards a fossil-free future
A wide-ranging green CCUS partnership, with 54 different actors. The partners are public and private CONTRIBUTORS
actors, including universities, knowledge institutions, and large and small companies, working together
on implementing a Danish CCUS roadmap. The plan is to focus on short-term (2025), medium-term The INNO-CCUS Partnership,
(2030), and long-term (2050) solutions that will contribute to Denmark achieving its climate goals while State of Green
at the same time supporting the establishment of new green industries, export opportunities, growth,
and jobs.

The partnership and roadmap are supported by Innovation Fund Denmark which, based on the Danish
Finance Act 2021, has been tasked with investing a total of approximately EUR 100 million in mis-
sion-driven green partnerships – including carbon capture, utilisation, and storage.

16
CARBON CAPTURE, UTILISATION, AND STORAGE

Service, IT and
Manufacturing
consultancy

Life Science Waste, water and

and biotech circular economy

Inland transport Aviation

14
climate
partnerships
Food and Blue Denmark
agriculture

Finance Construction

Energy intensive Commerce

industry

Energy and Defence

utilities

The Danish Government’s

Climate Partnerships
Denmark’s 14 industry-specific Climate Partnerships, initiated by the government in 2019 is instrumen- CONTRIBUTORS
tal to realising Denmark’s 2030 climate target of reducing CO₂ emissions by 70 percent, compared to
1990 levels. Spanning from energy and finance to construction and transport, industry leaders have State of Green
been tasked with formulating each sector’s contributions to carbon reductions. In simple terms, it is
a green roadmap for the industries by the industries. The unique collaboration between industry and
government in the climate partnerships has been a catalyst for companies to look beyond their own
industries for green solutions and innovative partnerships.

The eight partnerships for Aviation, the Maritime sector, the Land transport sector, the Energy and
utility sector, Food and agriculture, Manufacturing, Waste, water and circular economy, and the Energy
intensive industry, are all very vocal about the need for developing CCUS as a key solution, in meeting
the Danish CO₂ reduction target.

Collectively, the Climate Partnerships have produced more than 400 recommendations on how to
reach the target, many of which are being integrated into national policy.

17
CHAPTER 5

Connecting the dots with

a developed and modern
infrastructure
Be it as a waste product or as a valuable commodity, moving
CO₂ from a to b to c, or in other words from CC to U or S,
requires an integrated infrastructure. One that simultaneously
connects the Danish value chain and connects the rest of the
world to Denmark.

CO₂ can be transported in many ways: by rail, truck, ship and mately two thirds of all Danish households, Denmark has an
pipeline. Important CO₂ hubs in Denmark can be placed in opportunity to use excess heat from these processes.
Denmark’s effective and accessible ports, but also close to
the largest CO₂ emitters or to the Danish electricity trans- Developing national infrastructure
mission grid. A planning process has been initiated by the Danish Ministry
of Climate, Energy and Utilities that will tie together Danish
CO₂ transport by ship is possible by transporting CO₂ either emitters, ports and CCU facilities in a Danish CO₂ pipeline
from major Danish ports or from other countries to storage system. This system can be a combination of smaller plastic
sites in the North Sea. From the east, Denmark will be a pipe connections at the local level and bigger transmission
convenient storage partner for large emitters from countries pipes. The bigger pipes may connect the Greater Copen-
around the Baltic Sea. From the west, CO₂ can be shipped hagen area with one or two onshore or near-shore storage
directly to storage in the Danish part of the North Sea. sites in Zealand, and the Aalborg area with one or two on-
CO₂ transportation by ship is not yet an established busi- shore or near-shore sites in Jutland. A third pipeline can be a
ness, contrary to e.g. LNG shipping. In order to transport direct link from Nybro at Jutland’s North Sea coast to storage
sufficient quantities on each ship, the CO₂ must be liquefied sites in the North Sea.
by a combination of cooling and a pressure of approximately
20 bars. In comparison, LNG ship tanks are designed to a ... and international infrastructure
pressure of 6-7 bars. The tanks on a CO₂ ship must therefore In a European context, Denmark will cooperate with other
be constructed with thicker walls, making the tanks heavier countries in order to receive foreign CO₂ and store it in the
and more difficult to load and unload. Danish underground. To this end, bilateral agreements have
been reached with the likes of Belgium, the Netherlands and
CO₂ is transported through pipelines by the pressure creat- Germany. Denmark will also cooperate with other North Sea
ed by compressor stations. Similarly, the capture process is countries that have large storage capacities and may share
by itself a major source of energy use. But due to the wide- a combined North Sea pipeline infrastructure.
spread Danish central heating system, which heats approxi-

18
CARBON CAPTURE, UTILISATION, AND STORAGE

The world’s first carbon capture shipping entity

Dan-Unity CO₂ has been established by the two Danish shipping Photo credit: Dan Unity

companies, Evergas and Ultragas, and will be the world’s first

carbon capture shipping entity. Standing on the shoulders of
the two companies' rich histories, Dan-Unity CO₂ will tackle the
challenges of today to create a better tomorrow.
Evergas and Ultragas are among the world’s leading seaborne
transporters of gases and liquids. Their focus is to make gas
transport simple and safe, and to set new standards for efficient
and sustainable gas transport at sea. Dan-Unity CO₂ will carry
the CO₂ under the most energy-efficient transportation, which is
a mixture of a pressure of 6.5 bar and minus 48 C.

Dan-Unity CO₂ is a partner in the Greensand project and has

recently, in cooperation with Carbfix, been awarded EUR 115
million from the European Innovation Fund to build the Coda ter-
minal in Iceland. Here, Dan-Unity CO₂ will design, construct and
operate CO₂ carriers. Starting in 2026 it will move up to 3 Mtpa
for permanent mineralisation in the underground. CONTRIBUTORS

Dan Unity, CCS Alliancen,

Confederation of Danish Industry

Reengineering the gas grid for the future

Evida is a state-owned shareholder company with approximate-
ly 450 employees. Their main office is located in Viborg, Jutland.

For more than 35 years, Evida has operated the Danish gas
distribution grid comprised by 18.000 kilometres of pipelines
and ensuring safe distribution of methane to more than 400.000
consumers. Over the last 8 years Evida has adapted more than
50 green biogas plants into their system thereby increasing the
pace of the Danish green transition. The biogas supply covered
25 percent of the Danish gas consumption in 2021 and is expect-
ed to reach 100 percent around 2030.

Photo credit: Evida

Building upon this experience, Evida has been granted some
degree of freedom by its owner, the Danish Ministry of Finance,
to expand into other areas than natural gas, such as CO₂. Evida CONTRIBUTORS
has now put forward a strategy supporting the Danish ambitions
with respect to PtX and CCUS through pipelines for hydrogen Evida, CCS Alliancen, Confederation of
and CO₂. Evida expects to reuse methane pipelines and thus Danish Industry
decrease costs and speed up the green transition. Evida will be
able to receive and use “patient” capital that can decrease long-
run costs.

19
CHAPTER 6

Utilising CO₂
Biogenic CO₂ is an important feedstock for climate-neutral fuels
and plastics. As an example, utilising captured carbon in the
production of e-fuels is carbon neutral because the carbon is
recycled. The consumption of e-fuels can have a further positive
climate impact as it can substitute the use of fossil fuels.

Emitted CO₂ has traditionally been treated as a form of The technology is not only decarbonising fossil sectors, it
waste. However, carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) also offers increased sector integration and provides flexi-
technology enables us to turn CO₂ into valuable climate bility and security of supply at the same time. Furthermore,
neutral products. sector integration can lower the price of climate-neutral
products.
The climate neutral products are produced by combining
captured CO₂ with green hydrogen. The hydrogen is extract- Great conditions for sector integration
ed from water using electrolysis powered by electricity. It is Denmark has a world-class energy system with great con-
important that the electricity used in the process is renew- ditions for sector integration. For instance, excess heat from
able, e.g. from offshore and onshore wind, solar or power electrolysis and synthesis plants can be used in the district
plants using sustainable biomass. It is equally important that heating system. Additionally, Denmark has access to large
the carbon used comes from biogenic sources so that the amounts of renewable electricity from offshore wind in the
process stays within the natural carbon cycle and does not North Sea and Baltic Sea, and biogenic carbon from point
add new CO₂ to the atmosphere. sources such as biomass plants, biogas plants, and biogenic
waste. These conditions make Denmark the obvious place
Producing hydrogen-derived E-fuels for pursuing CCU.
CCU is particularly relevant when decarbonising the heavy
transport sector and the plastics industry. By adding carbon Large scale projects and more to come
to hydrogen in a synthesis process, e-diesel, e-methanol Denmark already has great ambitions for production of
and e-kerosene can be produced. These fuels can directly climate-neutral fuels and plastic. Currently, projects of at
replace fossil fuels currently used in hard-to-abate sectors least 7 GW of electrolysis production by 2030 have been
like heavy road transport, shipping and aviation. Further- announced. Collaboration across the entire value chain is
more, e-methanol can be used as a core ingredient in the needed to realise these ambitions. Danish companies are
plastics industry. Climate-neutral plastic also has the advan- already leading the way, both in the implementation of CCU
tage that the CO₂ is bound in the material for many years. and in the green transformation of the entire society.

20
CARBON CAPTURE, UTILISATION, AND STORAGE

Green Fuels for Denmark: a PtX partnership

Power-to-X (PtX) is a cornerstone technology in the fight against climate change in hard-to-abate sec- CONTRIBUTORS
tors and a clear, homegrown European industrial strength. With Green Fuels for Denmark, the aim is to
contribute to decarbonising road, maritime and air transport. Ørsted, Project Green Fuels
for Denmark, Green Power
By 2027, Green Fuels for Denmark will produce green fuels enough to supply the whole domestic fuel Denmark
demand for aviation in Denmark. Currently, the first phase of Green Fuels for Denmark is progressing,
and will be able to supply 1,000 tonnes of renewable hydrogen for heavy road transport annually. By
2030, when fully developed, Green Fuels for Denmark aims to reach a total electrolysis capacity of 1,300
MW and to produce 275,000 tonnes of renewable fuels per year.

Behind Green Fuels for Denmark is a unique partnership covering the whole PtX value chain from
development to off-take. The partnership covers both private and public entities as well as knowledge
institutions. The experiences and know-how embedded in the partnership are vital to the success of
the project and the scale up of the Danish PtX industry. Green Fuels for Denmark has just been granted
status as an IPCEI project (Important Project of Common European Interest) by the European Commis-
ion as one of two Danish PtX projects.

Green Fuels for Denmark is located in Copenhagen, Denmark, at Ørsted’s combined heat and power
plant, Avedøreværket.

21
FIGURE 5

CCU explained
Carbon capture and utilisation is a conversion technology that turns electricity into
carbon-neutral products such as green fuels or green plastic. Renewable electricity is
used to produce hydrogen in electrolysers. The hydrogen can either be used directly
or it can be processed further into carbon-neutral products in synthesis units by
combining the hydrogen with biogenic carbon. Excess heat from the electrolysis and
synthesis plants can be used for applications such as district heating.

Excess heat

RENEWABLE ENERGY ELECTROLYSIS

Figure adapted from Rambøll RE-ELECTRIFICATION INDUSTRY

22
 CARBON CAPTURE, UTILISATION, AND STORAGE

Excess heat

DISTRICT HEATING

CO2

SYNTHESIS CO2 FROM BIOGENIC SOURCES

E-fuels and chemicals

MOBILITY PLASTICS

23
CHAPTER 7

Storing CO₂
The Danish subsoil holds a large storage potential of up to
22 billion tonnes of CO₂. This potential - combined with other
factors - makes Denmark an ideal location for CO₂ storage.

The ambitious and dedicated CCS roadmap developed undertake geological and seismic investigations of possi-
by the Danish Ministry for Climate and Energy includes ble storage sites in the Danish underground. Hereafter, the
significant public funding and support as a cornerstone in Danish Energy Agency will make strategic environmental
Denmark’s green transition. consequence reviews of the sites. A selection of the sites
is expected to be opened in 2024 for a tender of rights for
Denmark has a strong history of public support for energy interested parties to undertake more detailed, in-depth in-
solutions turning climate ambitions into sustainable indus- vestigations of storage possibilities. CO₂ storage may begin
tries as previously proven in the Danish wind industry. This in these sites from 2027 or 2028.
extensive experience can and should serve as a lever for
realising the Danish CO₂ storage potential. How to store the CO2
CO₂ storage is done by pumping CO₂ into the underground
Benefiting from the Danish underground under high pressure up to 2 or 3 km below surface. The pres-
Furthermore, Denmark is geographically well placed in sure needed is higher the deeper the CO₂ is stored. Several
Northern Europe with a central location in the North Sea Danish companies have the competences and experience
and holding shallow waters, enabling cost of efficiency and to be part of the value chain as operators, sub-suppliers or
sector integration. On top of that, the efforts to drive down technical advisors.
CO₂ emissions are likely to remove or transform the 14,000
Danish jobs that are currently employed in the oil and gas Denmark has both infrastructure and competencies
sector. This underlines the importance of the ensuring a available for CO₂ and hydrogen transportation. Very large
green AND just transition. Estimates show that a targeted wind power ressources are available, enabling renewables
investment in CCS could create and maintain around 3,200 integration in the work processes.
new Danish jobs - jobs that require many of the same skills
as in the oil and gas sector. Supporting the CCS value chain
Adding to that, agreements on CO₂ import and export are
Overall, Denmark is expected to be able to store CO₂ both being negotiated and finalised as per the end of 2022, pro-
offshore, nearshore and onshore. The Geological Survey of viding flexibility and scale and supporting an innovative and
Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) has been commissioned to cost-efficient CCS value chain.

CCS Alliance
The Confederation of Danish Industry, Danish Shipping, the Danish District Heating Association, the Danish Metalworkers'
Union, Danish Offshore, and Axcelfuture have established the CCS Alliance. They bring together +50 public & private part-
ners covering the entire value chain to build a strong and competitive CCS industry. The aim of the Alliance is:

• To work for the highest amount of capture and storage capacity in 2030, including an understanding and
acceptance of what this requires in terms of political measures
• To strengthen public, private, and political awareness of CCS
• To share knowledge along the entire value chain
• And to highlight the importance of creating a framework for a competitive Danish CCS industry with jobs for Danish workers.

24
CARBON CAPTURE, UTILISATION, AND STORAGE

Denmark from above

Norway
New study shows that area in
Skagerak can store 1000Mt CO2

Sweden

HANSTHOLM

Nordjyllandsværket
VEDSTED

Aalborg Portland
THISTED

Siri feltet Viborg GASSUM

Kraftvarme
Verdo Produktion

Mårbjergværket Leca Danmark Studstrup-

VOLDUM værket
Silkeborg
PA A R U P varme

Syd Arne feltet Affaldscenter

Aarhus

In the oil- and gas fields Herningværket

2000Mt CO2 can be stored

Vestfor- Amagerværket
Tyra feltet brændingen
H AV N S Ø
Asnæsværket Amagerfor-
Gorm feltet
brændingen
Equinor
Halfdan feltet Shell ARGO
Refining
Esbjergværket Raffinaderiet H. C. Ørstedværket
Dan feltet STENLILLE
Avedøreværket
Køge
Skærbækværket
Energnist Kraftvarmeværk

Fjernvarme Fyn

CO2 storage capacity

in million tonnes (MT)
New study shows it is likely the structures
Hanstholm 2753 in Southern Denmark excluding Tønder
TØNDER
Gassum 630 and Rødby can store 3000Mt
Havnsø 926
Paarup 91 RØDBY

Rødby 152 Germany

Stenlille* 51
Thisted 11039
Tønder 91
Vedsted 162 The largest point sources for
Voldum 288 CO2 emissions in Denmark Geological structures
Syddanmark 3000
Fossil fuels and biomass Investigated areas
Olie-gasfelter 2000
Skagerrak 1000 100.000 - 500.000 tonnes Unexplored areas
Sum 22.183 500.000 - 1.000.000 tonnes Sandstone 800-3000m
*In use as natural gas storage > 1.000.000 tonnes Oil-gas fields

Gas Storage Denmark: secure storage solutions

Gas Storage Denmark (GSD) is a publicly owned company responsible for underground storage. CONTRIBUTORS
In the last 30 years, GSD has stored natural gas in facilities on Zealand and in Jylland. Energy
storage is a crucial part of the green transition, and GSD is focused on establishing storage solu- Gas Storage Denmark, CCS
tions for hydrogen and CO₂, which will be key contributions to a greener society. Storing onshore Alliancen, Confederation of
requires close contact with neighbours and local stakeholders, and GSD works closely together Danish Industry
with these partners as well as with national partners and customers. In GSD’s facility in Stenlille
on Zealand, GSD will be able to permanently store 500.000 tonnes CO₂ pr. year from 2025. GSD
has a very strong focus on security, high standards and efficiency.

25
CASES

Photo credit: Ineos, Project Greensand

Greensand: from depleted

oil fields to CO₂ storage
There is a huge potential for storage of carbon in the depleted oil fields in the Danish part of the North CONTRIBUTORS
Sea. INEOS Energy is leading the partnership behind the Greensand project, which will be among the
first to demonstrate the entire CCS value chain for climate purposes in Europe. CO₂ captured at the Ineos, Project Greensand, CCS
INEOS Oxide site in Antwerp, Belgium, will be transported by ship to the Danish part of the North Sea Alliancen, Confederation of
to the Nini offshore platform more than 150 km from the coast of Jutland, where it will be injected into Danish Industry
one of the existing wells. The planning is progressing according to plan and the first injection of CO₂ is
expected by the end of 2022. The full project could be operational from the end of 2025.

The primary objective of the Greensand project is to safely and permanently store potentially between
0,5 and 1,5 mill tonnes of CO₂ in 2025 and up to 8 mill tonnes of CO₂ per annum from 2030 in the INEOS
operated Siri area. The storage potential, if achieved, will contribute significantly to Denmark’s 2030
overall emissions reduction target.

26
CARBON CAPTURE, UTILISATION, AND STORAGE

Photo credit: TotalEnergies

Bifrost: long-term CO₂

storage in the North Sea
Project Bifrost explores a long-term solution for CCS by using existing infrastructure in the Danish CONTRIBUTORS
North Sea owned by TotalEnergies, Noreco, Nordsøfonden (offshore fields and associated facilities) and
Ørsted (pipelines). The aim is to store 3 Mtpa of CO₂ around the Harald gas field more than 200 km from TotalEnergies, Project Bifrost,
the coast of Jutland. This field is expected to be able to store CO₂ from 2027 or 2028. CCS Alliancen, Confederation of
Danish Industry
Bifrost will develop an offshore floating unit as an intermediate storage- and injection facility to which
CO₂ is transported by ship. The project will also repurpose existing gas-pipelines for CO₂ transport from
shore. Additionally, Bifrost will advance monitoring technologies and protocols and understanding of
the socio-economic aspects of CCS. The project will be key to unlock the CCS potential in the North
Sea, meet Denmark's climate targets and create new jobs for the offshore workforce.

27
CHAPTER 8

Attracting foreign talent

and developing business
opportunities with CCUS
Attracting bright minds and foreign investments play an
important role in the establishment of a thriving CCUS
scene in Denmark.

Technology and innovation are building blocks for a global Denmark’s advanced position on biomass-fired combined
green transition. Denmark can become an ideal living lab for heat and power plants, biogas, solid waste incineration
CCUS, fostering innovation and testing new technologies. and cement production means companies have good
local opportunities for testing and commercialising carbon
Attracting foreign talents and global companies is needed capturing solutions on these carbon sources and creating
to gather the skills and fill the gaps in the existing work- the foundation for subsequent technology exports to other
force, which will ultimately be beneficial to the economy. It countries.
is essential to ensure Danish companies’, researchers’ and
institutions’ continued and improved competitiveness, and Moving from being CCUS entrepreneurs of innovation to
to help secure Denmark’s position as a leading knowledge growing business opportunities requires identification of
society. investment potentials and public-private commitment to
scale up solutions.
Taking leadership on innovative solutions means a strong
collaboration between businesses and universities, as New solutions to be commercialised
well as developing a talent-pool of highly qualified labour. The use of carbon capture depends on several factors
Denmark offers flexible business conditions and an interna- including technology development, commercial viability,
tionally-oriented workforce. By building a nationwide CCUS alternative fuel prices and availability, and future emis-
ecosystem, Denmark can become a key location for CO₂ sion-related regulatory requirements. Further analyses and
storage and utilisation. developments are required to maximise emission reduction
and minimise costs, as well as developing business models
Testing and scaling up that would allow utilisation and/or storage of the carbon
The Danish commitment to the clean energy transition capture.
means a stable and predictable framework for long-term in-
vestments. It also means access to a variety of actors across Although the emissions reduction potential of CCUS is
the full supply chain in related sectors like renewable energy significant, its CO₂ abatement costs are currently high. The
production, green hydrogen, Power-to-X and sustainable incentive structures need to be in place working efficiently
fuels for trucks, shipping and aviation. to demonstrate market-based success.

28
CARBON CAPTURE, UTILISATION, AND STORAGE

29
CASES

Photo credit: Kasper Hornbæk

Direct Air Capture (DAC)

in Denmark
Direct Air Capture is a needed tool for Denmark’s goal of net neutrality both in combination with utili- CONTRIBUTORS
sation and storage, but it is still in its infancy regarding both implementation and research. The energy,
water, and heat demand of existing technologies make large-scale implementation undependable The Novo Nordisk Foundation
and unreliable for long-term solutions. Right now, the estimated cost is between 400-1000 EUR (t CO₂ CO₂ Research Center (CORC),
output/year). Denmark is investing heavily to develop new technology and methods to lower input Green Power Denmark
requirements and costs of DAC.

The Novo Nordisk Foundation CO₂ Research Center (CORC) is an example of Denmark’s strong
research landscape. CORC is an interdisciplinary research center, located at Aarhus University, with
a mission to research and develop technology that is able to capture and convert carbon on a gigaton
scale. It was awarded 630 million DKK (85 mil EUR) in 2021 and is one of Denmark’s biggest investments
in green technology. The aim is to combine life science with chemistry to explore new methods for DAC
and carbon conversion for utilisation.

CORC aims to mature new DAC technology to higher TRLs in record time by early-on implementation
of established businesses and policymakers to bridge the gap between ideas and scaleup. CORC em-
ploys the best research groups around the world as satellites to Aarhus University to ensure the best
competencies in the field of carbon conversion and capture.

30
CARBON CAPTURE, UTILISATION, AND STORAGE

Northern Denmark’s joint

beacon of green growth
Through CO₂Vision, North Denmark aims at becoming a regional frontrunner for CCUS. Their CO₂Vision CONTRIBUTORS
derives from an ambitious and wide-ranging partnership, consisting of more than 50 private compa-
nies, organisations, educational and research institutions, and business developers. Project CO₂ Vision,
State of Green
Their vision is that in 2030 North Jutland is an international pioneer region for CO₂ capture, utilisation
and storage, where CO₂ is captured from the 50 largest CO₂ point sources. At the same time, a green
piped infrastructure system has been established for the transport of both hydrogen and CO₂.

The infrastructure can be accessed by companies for transport and use, which enables the largest
emitters in the region to capture emissions and gives other companies the opportunity to produce
products incl. green fuels for heavy transport and the aviation sector. At the same time, several interme-
diate storage facilities have been established at ports, for example, and CO₂ and hydrogen are stored
underground in suitable structures.

By 2030, 5,000 new jobs will be created in the industry for CO₂ capture, use and storage.

31
Learn more about Danish energy solutions,
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