DKK 36 Million to Boost North Jutland’s Leadership in CO2 Capture, Utilization, Transport, and Storage

Denmark’s Business Promotion Board has just awarded the North Jutland business beacon CO2Vision an additional DKK 36 million over a three-year period.

The funds are allocated to three main areas: Further development of future energy infrastructure, test and demonstration sites, and competence development, including the development of course modules and elective subjects for employees in SMEs and students at North Jutland educational institutions.

Several paths lead to the common vision

The North Jutland ambition is to be a leading region for capture, utilization, transport, and storage of CO2 – also known as CCUS. The consortium behind CO2Vision actively works to turn CO2 into a resource and increase growth and employment opportunities. Since its inception in 2022, a strong collaboration has been established between the consortium members and a wide range of other North Jutland actors, all contributing to the realization of the vision.

“Through CO2Vision, we have demonstrated that it is possible to unite an entire region around a common agenda. The vision is rooted in North Jutland but is relevant for the entire Denmark and large parts of the world, so we are extremely pleased that this work can continue,” says Mogens Christen Gade, Chairman of the Steering Group behind the CO2Vision consortium.

Test and demonstration sites are evolving

During the first year, the consortium and partners in CO2Vision have gained valuable experiences, which will be carried forward into this phase two.

“We have initiated the first test and demonstration projects. With the new grant, we can continue the collaboration and scale investments and projects within CCUS. The goal is to involve even more companies on this collective journey,” explains Michael Stie Laugesen, Project Manager at Green Hub Denmark.

An example of a scaling project is at Port of Aalborg, where a bridge will be built between two previous CO2Vision demonstration projects. The new project is named Gate2GreenFuels and will be designated as a LivingLab. With few modifications, the area at Port of Aalborg could become the leading test and demonstration platform where existing and new technologies can be validated in a comprehensive Power-to-X system.

Port of Aalborg’s ambition is to support industries willing to demonstrate and test new technologies while also acting as a platform for knowledge sharing and competence building.

There will be a need for labor force and new skills

Another key experience to be carried forward relates to competence development in North Jutland SMEs.

“With the new grant, we can continue the initiatives we have started in terms of workforce and competence development over the past year. In the initial phase, we found that the demand for CCUS-related skills in the market is still relatively small. However, it is important that North Jutland SMEs already start looking at their business opportunities and target their competencies towards CCUS,” explains Luise Linnemann Rasmussen, Development Director at Business House North Jutland.

Analyses indicate that towards 2030, several CCUS facilities will be established and infrastructure expanded, leading to increased demand for labor related to CCUS. A wide range of skills will be needed, including engineers, lawyers, drivers, ship assemblers, contractors, technical drafters, electricians, blacksmiths, construction engineers, plumbers, electricians, mechanical engineers, process technicians, and process engineers.

Upskilling the current workforce and adapting offerings at North Jutland higher education institutions within these fields will therefore be central in the coming years’ work towards CO2Vision.

Simultaneously, close collaboration with SMEs will focus on expanding their business areas to become subcontractors in the establishment and realization of CO2Vision.

Facts about CO2Vision

CO2Vision is North Jutland’s joint business beacon, part of a national designation of local/regional beacons for business growth.

In CO2Vision, North Jutland aims to be a leading region for capture, utilization, transport, and storage of CO2 – also known as CCUS.

The geographical and knowledge-based starting point for North Jutland is unique; there are point sources, underground storage conditions, researchers, authorities, and world-class companies that can demonstrate and scale CCUS technologies for final commercialization.

The consortium behind CO2Vision is broadly composed and consists of: Aalborg Portland, Business Region North Denmark, Aalborg University, UCN University College, the Danish Agency for Labour Market and Recruitment, Energy Cluster Denmark, Evida, North Denmark EU Office, Green Hub Denmark, and Business House North Jutland.
The vision behind CO2Vision

North Jutland aims to be an international leading region for future green businesses, demonstrating significant climate gains as well as substantial growth and employment opportunities achievable through developing, integrating, utilizing, and exporting new green technologies, utilizing digital solutions, and establishing relevant infrastructure. The ambition is to capture, reuse, or store CO2 rather than emit it and to produce future green fuels and other products with captured CO2 and hydrogen.

Facts about the new grant

Funds are allocated over a 3-year period until 2026
CO2Vision has been allocated DKK 36 million out of a total pool of DKK 312 million from the EU Regional Fund, the Social Fund Plus, and decentralized business promotion funds
Contact for more information

Project Manager Michael Stie Laugesen, Green Hub Denmark phone: +45 2520 0472

Development Director Luise Linnemann Rasmussen, Business House North Jutland phone: +45 2330 0946