Carbon dioxide (CO2) is one of the main greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming and climate change. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion reached a record high of 33.4 gigatons (Gt) in 2019, accounting for about 75% of total greenhouse gas emissions. To limit the rise in global temperature to well below 2°C, as agreed by the Paris Agreement, CO2 emissions need to be reduced by 45% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.
One of the ways to achieve this ambitious goal is to capture CO2 from industrial sources or from the air, and store it permanently underground or use it for other purposes. This process is known as carbon capture and storage (CCS) or carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS). CCS/CCUS can prevent up to 90% of CO2 emissions from entering the atmosphere, while allowing for continued use of fossil fuels in sectors that are hard to decarbonize, such as cement, steel, chemicals and power generation.
However, CCS/CCUS is still not widely deployed due to various technical, economic and regulatory challenges. According to the IEA, only about 40 million tonnes (Mt) of CO2 were captured and stored globally in 2020, which is less than 0.1% of total CO2 emissions. The IEA estimates that CCS/CCUS needs to capture and store about 5.6 Gt of CO2 per year by 2050 to meet the Paris Agreement targets.
Denmark is one of the countries that are leading the way in advancing CCS/CCUS technology and policy. On March 8th, 2023, Denmark launched a project called "Greensand" to bury imported CO2 1,800 meters beneath the North Sea . This makes Denmark the first country in the world to do so.
The Greensand project is led by British chemical firm Ineos along with Danish energy company Wintershall Dea and state-owned Energinet . The project aims to inject up to eight Mt of CO2 per year into an old oil field called Nini West . The CO2 will be transported by ship from Norway, where it will be captured from a waste-to-energy plant operated by Fortum Oslo Varme. The project will also receive funding from the European Union's Innovation Fund .
The Greensand project is expected to start injecting CO2 into the seabed by 2027. It will test the feasibility and safety of storing CO2 offshore in sandstone reservoirs that are saturated with salt water. The project will also monitor the movement and impact of CO2 underground using seismic surveys and sensors.
The Greensand project is part of Denmark's broader strategy to become a carbon-neutral country by 2050 [6]. Denmark has already reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by more than 40% since 1990 through increasing renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. Denmark also plans to phase out oil and gas production in its North Sea fields by 2050. By importing and storing CO2 from other countries, Denmark hopes to create a new green industry that can generate jobs and revenue while helping Europe achieve its climate goals.
Denmark's Minister for Climate Dan Jørgensen said: "We have set ourselves an ambitious goal: we want Denmark not only to reduce its own emissions but also help other countries reduce theirs." He added: "By importing foreign waste-based biogenic CO₂ we can kickstart a whole new industry here at home while helping our neighbours on their way towards their own green transition."
Denmark's initiative has been welcomed by international organizations such as IEA and UN Climate Change. Fatih Birol, the Executive Director of IEA, said: "Denmark is showing great leadership in advancing carbon capture and storage, a vital technology for reaching net-zero emissions."