His Majesty King Frederik X of Denmark officially opened the first full-scale facility for permanent offshore CO2 storage in the European Union on 18 September. The opening ceremony took place at the Port of Esbjerg marking Greensand’s move into commercial operation.
For the first time, Greensand provides industry across the EU with the infrastructure it needs to transport and permanently store CO2. It offers a practical route to reducing emissions without shutting down the industries that Europe depends upon.
The opening was attended by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Chairman of INEOS, European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen, Danish Minister of Finance Peter Hummelgaard, Paloma Aba Garrote, Director of CINEA, and other industry and policy leaders from across the EU.
European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen: ‘Today marks an important milestone for Europe. With the launch, here in Esbjerg, of the first fully operational site for offshore carbon storage in the EU, we prove that carbon storage is a practical reality. We show that we can move from demonstration to deployment. We set out a path for European industries: to continue their transition to a low-carbon future, while maintaining production, investments, and employment in our continent. And we open a new front in the existential fight against climate change.’
Carbon Destroyer 1
For Royal Wagenborg, Royal Niestern Sander built the Carbon Destroyer 1, Europe’s first offshore DP2 CO2 carrier. The 149.95‑metre vessel is designed specifically for shuttle transport between Esbjerg and the Nini field, Denmark’s first operational offshore CO2 storage site.
Based on the proven EasyMax design, the ship features a cargo capacity of approximately 5000 tonnes of liquefied CO2 and meets the highest standards for safety, fuel efficiency, and low emissions. With its 36‑hour shuttle cycle, the ship will be able to transport approximately 600,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. This scale makes the vessel a key operational link in enabling industrial CO2 storage at sea.
Also read: Europe’s first CO2 carrier ready for Esbjerg after sea trials
EU still has to set the right conditions
With the opening on 18 September, permanent full-scale CO₂ storage enters operation in the EU. The question that follows is how quickly the EU establishes the regulatory, infrastructure and investment conditions that allow industrial emitters to capture CO2 at scale.
‘Greensand starts with biogenic1 CO2, but its significance reaches far beyond that first step,’ says Mads Gade, CEO of INEOS Energy Europe. ‘We are ready to expand capacity to receive CO2 from industries across Europe. Greensand is open for business, and a new European market for permanent CO2 storage can now begin to take shape.’
Also read: BOKA Da Vinci completes key CO2 storage work
CO2 capture and storage kicking off
The official opening of the offshore site follows that of the EU’s largest carbon capture facility at Yara Sluiskil, the Netherlands earlier this month. This facility captures CO2 from its ammonia and fertilizer production. From Sluiskil it is transported to Norway for offshore storage.
Picture: Carbon Destroyer 1 at Greensand’s offshore CO2 storage location (photo INEOS).
Also read: Europe’s largest carbon capture facility opens in Netherlands
