Carbon capture is a much-discussed topic among climate engineers though in practice is a complex process that can often be energy-intensive itself. Yet given the right conditions it can be viable. One such example is Project Greensand, which will store CO2 in the subsoil of the North Sea.
The scheme was opened officially on Wednesday by Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, who initiated the injection of carbon dioxide from Belgium into Danish soil.
"This is a big moment for Europe's green transition and our green tech industry," said President Ursula Von der Leyen in her speech on the occasion of launching Project Greensand, which she hailed as a European first.
How does it work?
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) takes greenhouse gas emissions from fossil-fuelled power stations and industries, then transports it for storage. In this instance, carbon dioxide will be captured from a Belgian INEOS industrial plant, then transported by ship to be injected into a depleted oil field 200 kilometres off the Danish North Sea coast.
The CO2 will be stored 1,800 metres below the surface and closely monitored, according to INEOS, a British multinational chemical company. INEOS and Wintershall Dea are heads of the consortium of 23 Danish and international organisations involved in the project.
The UN Environmental Programme said in a report that CCS has the potential to reduce the overall mitigation costs and make a significant contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
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Project Greensand aims to permanently store up to 8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year. The European Commission estimates that to reach its climate goals for 2050, the EU must capture up to 300 million tonnes of carbon emissions per year.
"To put this in perspective, this corresponds to over 10% of Denmark's current annual CO2 emissions, or the yearly carbon footprint of nearly 1 million Danish citizens," Von der Leyen said. She added that the EU has awarded €2.8 billion to 24 decarbonisation projects.
The European Commission is set to publish a comprehensive strategy for carbon capture and storage later this year.
