In a pivotal moment for the green transition, a ship capable of transporting carbon dioxide (CO2) for storage docked at Asnæsværket in Kalundborg on March 19, 2025. Climate experts, as reported by TV 2, confirm that this event marks a significant step in Ørsted's project set to prevent approximately 430,000 tons of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere starting in 2026. The CO2 will be shipped to Norway, where the company Northern Light is preparing to store it deep beneath the seabed. Currently, Asnæsværket burns wood chips, releasing CO2 directly into the atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect. Ørsted is developing a plant that will capture this gas before it is emitted.
In addition to Asnæsværket, a similar facility is being constructed at the straw-fired Avedøreværk in Hvidovre. Together, these two capture plants are Denmark's first carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects. Denmark emits roughly 40 million tons of CO2 annually, meaning that these two projects represent only about 1% of the total emissions. However, the potential for scaling this technology is significant as it becomes more widely adopted.
Ole Thomsen, director of Ørsted's Power Plant Business, emphasizes the critical necessity of CCS in achieving Denmark's climate goals for 2030. "It is a crucial piece to reach our climate targets; it is equivalent to the emissions of 200,000 gasoline cars," he stated. While the process of transporting CO2 will create some emissions, Thomsen points out they will be minimal.
Philip Fosbøl, a lecturer at DTU Chemical Engineering, echoes these sentiments, considering the project vital for Denmark's green transition. "If we don't do this, we will not reach our climate targets, that’s for sure," he affirmed. Originally skeptical about Ørsted's ambitious timeline, Fosbøl expressed optimism as it appears the company is on track: "It looks like they are keeping the schedule. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that they succeed. It shows Denmark is at the forefront here, which is fantastic."
Denmark's proactive approach could have broader implications. Fosbøl notes that the country’s advancements in CO2 capture technology could turn into business opportunities, allowing them to export their innovations globally. "Denmark needs to be a frontrunner in this, which means we can sell technology to others in different countries and support our welfare through these projects," he asserted.
Norway was strategically chosen as the destination for the CO2 storage due to its extensive history of gas storage related to the oil industry. Once the CO2 reaches Northern Light's facilities near Bergen, it will be loaded and transported through an underwater pipeline that spans 110 kilometers out to sea, where it will be injected 2.6 kilometers into the ground.
Fridtjof Wisur, director of the Norwegian company, assures a permanent and safe solution, saying, "There is long experience with CO2 storage. In Norway, for instance, we have been doing it for over 30 years." He also anticipates that the collaboration with Ørsted will constitute a significant fraction of their business, but he sees broader benefits as well. There is hope that the shared experiences between Denmark and Norway will bolster further CO2 storage initiatives across Europe.
Wiser describes the CO2 extraction process as follows: the emissions from the power plant are cooled and partially cleaned before being channeled through a liquid that chemically binds the CO2, similar to the fizz in carbonated drinks. The liquid is then heated, releasing the bound CO2 for capture and compression.
Ørsted plans for the first CO2 shipment from its two capture facilities to take place at the beginning of 2026, highlighting the ongoing efforts to align with Denmark's climate commitments. As these groundbreaking projects unfold, they represent not just a technical achievement, but a beacon of hope for a sustainable future amid global warming challenges.
