Northern Jutland ports must work with CO2 as a resource

Northern Jutland ports must work with CO₂ as a resource

The Danish industrial ports will play an absolutely central role in the green transition. NIRAS maps the potential roles of five Northern Jutland ports within CO₂ capture, use and storage (CCUS) in a new analysis.

Big challenges. Great possibilities. The green transition will leave a big mark on many of Denmark's industrial ports in the future. From being important hubs for imports, exports, national logistics, storage, business, fishing etc., the ports will also have many new and important functions derived from the transition to renewable energy.

Specifically, the Danish ports will be key players in relation to new, innovative technologies for CO₂ capture, use and storage (CCUS) as well as in the production of new types of synthetic fuels – in colloquial terms Power-to-X. The ports can become absolutely central to the logistics that need to be established to achieve well-functioning value chains for viable CCUS and PtX industries.

Sees CO2 as a resource

For the CO₂VISION consortium, which consists of more than 50 companies and organisations, NIRAS carries out an analysis of the role of five North Jutland ports in CCUS. These are the ports of Hanstholm, Hirtshals, Frederikshavn, Aalborg and Skagen.

"In North Jutland, we have a large CO₂ emission - the largest in Denmark. That is why it is important that we in the North Jutland region take the lead in relation to the utilization of CO₂. We see CO₂ as a resource - and when you have resources, there are also opportunities for growth," says Mette Høj Ravnborg, project manager at Green Hub Denmark, which is a consortium partner in CO₂VISION.

A 'roadmap' for CCUS in North Jutland

The analysis, which will be carried out in the spring of 2023, will outline possible future developments and wishes within the CCUS for each of the five ports. This must be done by uncovering focus areas such as; framework conditions, infrastructure, market potentials and visions.

"We must ensure the parties behind CO₂VISION and Green Hub Denmark a clear overview of the future role of the North Jutland ports within CCUS. The ports can potentially play a central role in the value chain by receiving or shipping CO2, hydrogen and PtX products in North Jutland," says NIRAS' project manager Helene Waagstein Juhl.

The analysis must be summarized in a report, which is expected to be ready at the end of June 2023. This must be continued as a central input to a 'roadmap' for the development of CCUS in Region North Jutland.

The article was prepared by NIRAS. Read it at NIRAS here.