Greenport Scandinavia

Challenge

Several internationally recognized analyses, including from the IPPC and IEA, confirm that the rapid implementation of large-scale CCUS is essential to achieving the Paris Agreement's global greenhouse gas reduction targets. This is also supported by the Danish government, particularly with the CCS initiative from August 2023.

A report from Kraka Advisory in 2023 highlights the potential CO2 storage market in Europe, estimating a market value between DKK 450-1,000 billion, with Denmark's potential market share ranging from 5% to 10%, valued between DKK 23 billion and 100 billion, and potentially creating 4,000 to 17,000 jobs.

Greenport Scandinavia builds on the ambitions of the northern Jutland business lighthouse CO2Vision and the foundation laid by Project Greensand, which in March 2023 demonstrated the first CO2 injection on the Danish shelf in the North Sea.

Against this backdrop, a cooperation agreement has been made between several stakeholders to demonstrate CO2 capture, transport, and intermediate storage at Hirtshals Port for permanent storage in the Greensand area.

Solution

The project will establish a proof of industrial-scale CO2 intermediate storage and related loading equipment at Hirtshals Port. It will transport 200,000 tons of CO2 annually from northern Jutland biogas plants and other biogenic point sources to the intermediate storage for shipment and permanent storage in the Greensand area in the North Sea.

The project will also conduct the necessary preliminary investigations for a pipeline CO2 infrastructure from Aalborg to Hirtshals Port, enabling the transportation of large quantities of CO2 from northern Jutland and, in the future, from other parts of Denmark and Europe to a purpose-built CO2 terminal (processing and intermediate storage) at Hirtshals Port via pipeline infrastructure. From there, the CO2 will be sent for permanent storage in the Greensand area or other future geological storage structures or used for other purposes through PtX.

Moreover, the project will explore CO2 capture potential in Himmerland to expand the CO2 infrastructure south of Aalborg and eventually connect it to structures like Gassum or Thorning for onshore CO2 storage.

Impact

“Greenport Scandinavia – establishment of new northern Jutland CCUS value chains” will provide the comprehensive technical, business, and economic decision-making basis for the investment decision on large-scale CCUS implementation and the development of local northern Jutland CCUS value chains.

The project will create or mature four new northern Jutland CCUS value chains:

Establish a new value chain for the capture, transport, and storage of 200,000 tons of CO2 from biogas plants during the project period.

Mature a new value chain for the capture, transport, and storage of CO2 from Aalborg Portland.

Mature new value chains for the capture, transport, and storage of CO2 from point sources in Himmerland.

Mature a new value chain for importing and storing CO2 from European point sources.

To support the commercialization of the CCUS value chains, the project will develop competency-enhancing courses and education to help the local workforce transition to new qualifications and competencies required in the CCUS fields, thereby maturing the CCUS supply chain.

For more information, visit Greenport Scandinavia.