From seabed to business case: Denmark's CCUS ecosystem is ready to scale
A complete storage chain taking shape
The Greensand project is supported by infrastructure that is gradually being put in place. Dedicated CO2 transport vessels are already in operation, and construction of a CO2 terminal at the Port of Esbjerg is under way. Together, these elements form the basis of Denmark’s first integrated supply chain for offshore CO2 storage, covering capture, transport and injection.
For international companies assessing CCUS opportunities in Europe, this provides an early example of how Denmark is structuring storage projects around shared infrastructure rather than stand-alone solutions.
More storage capacity under assessment
While Greensand is the first project to obtain a full storage licence, several other consortia are currently working under investigation licences to mature additional storage sites, both offshore and onshore. And it is expected that two or three nearshore investigation licences is being awarded in the near future.
In total, the storage capacity being developed exceeds CO2 volumes from Danish point sources several times. This gives Denmark the basis for serving both domestic and cross-border storage needs over time, with the pace of deployment primarily depending on the establishment of viable business cases for individual storage sites.
Capture potential and infrastructure planning
Denmark’s CCUS activities build on existing capture potential in the well-developed biogas, combined heat and power plants and industrial sectors. Together, these sources create a scale and diversity of emissions that form a natural foundation for Denmark to develop a broader role as a European CCUS hub. These sectors provide a starting point for future capture projects as technologies, policy frameworks and economics continue to evolve.
At the same time, Danish ports and the state-owned infrastructure provider Evida are examining options for future CO2 transport infrastructure, including pipelines linking ports, storage sites and emission sources. These initiatives are still in development but indicate a coordinated approach to long-term infrastructure planning.
Investor interest across the CCUS value chain
Beyond storage, Invest in Denmark is seeing increasing interest from international companies and investors in related CCUS activities. This includes direct air capture and carbon utilisation based on biological processes and the incorporation of CO2 into building materials.
Taken together, these developments point to a CCUS landscape that is gradually taking shape, with opportunities emerging across different parts of the value chain as projects mature and market conditions develop.