Greensand begins commercial CO2 storage operations in Denmark

Greensand, a project led by INEOS Energy, has commenced commercial operations at a facility described by its partners as the European Union’s first full-scale site for permanent carbon dioxide storage. The launch was marked by a ceremony at the Port of Esbjerg, attended by His Majesty King Frederik X of Denmark. The project is being developed in collaboration with Harbour Energy and the Danish North Sea Fund, with European and Danish officials also present at the event. These attendees included European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen and Danish Finance Minister Peter Hummelgaard.

The facility will initially source carbon dioxide primarily from Danish biomethane plants. The gas is liquefied and transported by road to a dedicated terminal at the Port of Esbjerg. From there, it is shipped using Carbon Destroyer 1, which the project partners identify as the EU’s first purpose-built carbon dioxide carrier. The gas is then injected into the Nini West reservoir, a depleted oilfield located approximately 250 kilometres offshore and around 1,800 metres beneath the seabed. During its first commercial phase, the site has the capacity to store up to 400,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per annum. As demand increases, the planned capacity could eventually expand to between four and eight million tonnes per annum.

Jim Ratcliffe, chairman of INEOS, stated that Europe must maintain industrial competitiveness while reducing emissions to achieve net zero targets. He emphasised that Greensand is a fully operational carbon storage business rather than a pilot project or political ambition. David Bucknall, CEO of INEOS Energy, noted that the project brings the EU’s first full-scale storage site and value chain into operation, providing a foundation for future carbon capture projects across the continent. The opening occurs as the EU aims to reach carbon capture and storage capacity of 50 million tonnes per annum by 2030 and between 250 and 280 million tonnes per annum by 2040, levels at which Europe currently remains far from. The announcement also highlighted the importance of energy-intensive industries, which employ almost eight million people in Europe and generate around 550 billion euros in annual value added. These sectors, including cement, steel and chemicals, face rising costs and international competition. In May this year, INEOS Energy signed an agreement with Shell Offshore to co-invest in oil and gas exploration and development near the Appomattox platform in the Gulf of Mexico.