Ørsted is now commencing the construction of two CO2 capture facilities (CCS) designed to capture and store CO2 emissions from the wood chip-fired Asnæs Power Station in Kalundborg and the straw-fired facility at Avedøre Power Station in Hvidovre. This project represents Denmark’s first full-scale CO2 capture initiative and marks the beginning of a new era for CO2 capture and storage in the country.
Press Release | 04.12.2023
The CO2 capture project, awarded a 20-year contract by the Danish Energy Agency in May 2023, is expected to capture 430,000 tons of biogenic CO2 annually from the two combined heat and power plants starting in early 2026. The capture and storage of CO2 from straw and wood chip-fired facilities remove CO2 from the atmosphere, contributing significantly to Denmark’s climate goals for 2025 and 2030.
Ole Thomsen, Senior Vice President and Director of Ørsted’s Power Station Business, stated: “We are proud to begin constructing Denmark’s first full-scale CO2 capture project. We need to implement various green solutions to combat climate change, and this project will play a crucial role in our efforts. We look forward to collaborating with our partners, municipalities, and stakeholders to make this project successful and achieve our shared climate goals.”
The groundbreaking ceremony will be attended by Climate, Energy, and Utilities Minister Lars Aagaard, Ørsted’s CEO Mads Nipper, and the mayors of the two municipalities hosting the facilities—Søren Friis Trebbien from Hvidovre Municipality and Martin Damm from Kalundborg Municipality.
Mayor Martin Damm of Kalundborg Municipality remarked: “I am pleased to be part of kickstarting the Danish CCS adventure, a significant step towards meeting Danish climate goals that will also positively impact the local community in Kalundborg. With a strong business environment already in Kalundborg, I am confident that the CO2 capture project here will further enhance the green synergies we are witnessing today, putting Kalundborg firmly on the map in Denmark.”
Mayor Søren Friis Trebbien of Hvidovre Municipality added: “It is positive that Hvidovre’s green business profile is now strengthened, and I look forward to following the CO2 capture project from the sidelines. In Hvidovre, we already possess some of the business and educational competencies needed to support the positive impact of the CO2 capture project on the local area, making this a perfect match.”
Ørsted hosted a ‘groundbreaking’ event on December 4 at Avedøre Power Station to celebrate the start of construction for Denmark’s first full-scale CO2 capture project.
Project Facts ‘Ørsted Kalundborg CO2 Hub’:
- The ‘Ørsted Kalundborg CO2 Hub’ project aims to capture and store 430,000 tons of CO2 annually from early 2026. This is equivalent to the annual CO2 emissions from approximately 200,000 gasoline-powered cars.
- Ørsted will capture 150,000 tons of biogenic CO2 annually from the straw-fired unit at Avedøre Power Station. Initially, the captured CO2 will be transported by truck to Asnæs Power Station until a shared pipeline across Zealand is established.
- The straw-fired unit at Avedøre Power Station converts locally sourced straw into electricity and district heating. The straw is a byproduct of agriculture.
- Ørsted will capture 280,000 tons of biogenic CO2 annually from the wood chip-fired unit at Asnæs Power Station. Asnæs Power Station will also serve as a CO2 hub, responsible for handling and transporting biogenic CO2 from both Avedøre Power Station and Asnæs Power Station to the Northern Lights storage reservoir in the Norwegian part of the North Sea.
- The wood chip-fired unit at Asnæs Power Station converts wood chips, primarily sourced from the Baltic countries, into electricity, district heating, and process steam for local industries. The wood chips come from sustainably managed production forests and consist of surplus wood from sawmills or byproducts from thinning or irregularly shaped trees.
Learn more about the project here:
Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS) | Ørsted (orsted.com)
For further information, please contact:
Global Media Relations
Carsten Birkeland Kjær
+45 99 55 77 65
cabkj@orsted.com