Construction has officially commenced on Greensand’s Carbon Dioxide transit terminal at Port Esbjerg in Denmark. This terminal is poised to be an essential part of what is anticipated to be the European Union’s first facility dedicated to CO₂ storage, contributing significantly to climate change mitigation efforts.
The completion of the terminal is expected in Autumn 2023, followed by INEOS Energy managing the operations of the first gateway for carbon capture and storage (CCS) logistics in the EU on behalf of the Greensand consortium. Greensand has established agreements to source liquefied CO₂ from multiple biogas plants throughout Denmark.
After capturing the CO₂, it will be transported by truck to the Esbjerg terminal for temporary storage. Once the storage tanks reach capacity, the liquefied CO₂ will be transferred to a specialized carrier operated by Royal Wagenborg and shipped to the INEOS Nini platform in the North Sea.
Ultimately, the CO₂ will be injected through pipelines into subsurface reservoirs situated approximately 1,800 meters beneath the seabed for long-term storage. Denmark is positioning itself as a leader in climate solutions and green job creation.
In December 2024, INEOS and its collaborators Harbour Energy and Nordsøfonden made a significant decision to launch the commercial phase of the Greensand project, expecting to invest over DKK 1 billion to enhance the storage capacity in the CCS value chain. The project aims to initiate offshore injection by late 2025 or early 2026, solidifying its status as the EU’s first operational CO₂ storage site aimed at combating climate change.
The European Commission has indicated that by 2040, the EU will need to store 250 million tonnes of CO₂ annually to fulfill the Paris Agreement targets. The economic opportunities within Denmark are substantial; capturing just 5% of the European CCS market could create nearly 9,000 jobs and yield an economic impact of DKK 50 billion.
Mads Gade highlights Port Esbjerg’s vital role in this green transition, with the terminal further establishing the port as a central hub for CO₂ capture and storage in the EU. Dennis Jul Pedersen expressed pride in supporting Greensand’s advancements, emphasizing Denmark’s geological advantages for future CO₂ storage across Europe.