According to Digital Energy Hub and Center Denmark, the project demonstrates how existing infrastructure can take on a new role in the energy system of the future. The next step is to explore concrete pilot and demonstration projects where the solutions can be tested in practice. VUDP has granted DKK 2.2 million for this purpose through the SmartFlow project, which builds on the results of this sprint. In the longer term, the experience gained from SONFOR Flex could also be relevant to other utility companies working with similar systems and challenges.

“If we are to succeed with the green transition, we cannot only build new infrastructure. We also need to become better at using the infrastructure we already have. SONFOR Flex is a good example of how data and cross-sector collaboration can open up new solutions that can both strengthen utility operations and create flexibility in the energy system,” says Michael Sørensen, Project Manager at Digital Energy Hub and Head of Innovation at Center Denmark.

Read more about the sprint in the results story here.

Facts about SONFOR Flex

SONFOR Flex originated from an idea at SONFOR that the existing wastewater system could be used more intelligently.

SONFOR Flex was carried out as an innovation sprint in collaboration between SONFOR, the University of Southern Denmark and Digital Energy Hub, which is facilitated by Center Denmark, DigitalLead and Energy Cluster Denmark and supported by Industriens Fond.

An innovation sprint is a short and focused process in which companies, researchers and experts work together to investigate a specific challenge and identify possible solutions.

The sprint explored the potential for intelligent control and flexibility in the wastewater and stormwater system. The work was based on data from, among other things, pumps, flow measurements, basins and wastewater treatment processes.

The sprint is intended to form the basis for future pilot and demonstration projects and the further development of intelligent control tools.

Facts about Digital Energy Hub

Digital Energy Hub is an innovation hub funded by Industriens Fond from 2025 to 2028 with DKK 19.7 million. The project is facilitated by Center Denmark, DigitalLead and Energy Cluster Denmark.

Read more at www.digitalenergyhub.dk

If you have any questions about the project or would like to become part of the hub, please contact Michael Sørensen, Head of Innovation, Center Denmark, at mics@centerdenmark.com or +45 2345 8362.

Find the report here.

A report that makes a complex field more concrete

According to the project partners, one of the most important insights has been that the area is more complex than it may first appear.

“Our vision has been to help create a standard for how CO2 is monitored and reported. But the project has also shown that this field is significantly more complex than it may seem at first glance. This is not a one-size-fits-all market,” says Troels Skov Moestrup, CCO at Olicem.

In the project, Olicem has focused on how existing experience with emissions data and reporting can be applied in a new context.

“We are in a stronger position now because we have gained more concrete knowledge about the variables involved, what needs to be reported, and how solutions need to be adapted to different point sources as well as future CO2 infrastructure. That is important, because if you want to create value, you need to address real needs,” says Troels Skov Moestrup.

Familiar technology in a new reality

For FORCE Technology, the project has provided new insights into how established measurement technologies can be used in a new context.

“Measuring impurities in pure CO2 is different from measuring them in, for example, air and flue gas emissions, and it requires a thorough understanding of the instruments’ measurement principles, limitations and potential interferences caused by the CO2 matrix,” says Christina Andersen, Project Manager in Clean Air Technologies at FORCE Technology.

She also points out that monitoring CO2 quality is a necessary part of a well-functioning value chain.

“CO2 that does not meet applicable quality specifications can create challenges for materials, processes and safety. No infrastructure owner or off-taker is likely to want to receive CO2 that is insufficiently documented or contaminated. That is why reliable monitoring of CO2 quality is important.”

Relevant today and for future projects

The project also comes at a time when the market is maturing and more projects are on the way.

This makes the project particularly relevant for companies such as Aalborg Portland, which is facing major decisions as CO2 management moves from plans into practice. The results can help provide a stronger basis for decision-making in a market where requirements, standards and roles are still evolving.

“A project like CO2QMON contributes important fundamental knowledge in an area where many questions remain unanswered. It is useful for individual projects because it reduces uncertainty and makes it easier to navigate requirements, solutions and interfaces between partners.

But it also has broader significance for the industry as a whole. CCUS requires many parts of the value chain to work together, and a shared understanding of quality, monitoring and reporting will be absolutely central. It is a prerequisite for the market to develop in a robust way,” says Jesper Damtoft, Group Sustainability Director at Aalborg Portland.

The project points to a need for greater shared understanding across the value chain. The many working groups and parallel tracks make it difficult for companies to navigate quality requirements, documentation and regulatory requirements. In this context, the report is an important outcome because it makes the field more concrete for companies preparing to move forward with CCUS in practice.

FORCE Technology has used experience from the project as part of the development of a customer service that includes measurement of a wide range of impurities in CO2.

“We are already seeing demand from the market for support in documenting CO2 quality. The project has contributed valuable experience and insights into what is needed to support this development,” says Christina Andersen from FORCE Technology.

The project is part of Erhvervsfyrtårn Nord / Virksomhedsudvikling Danmark.