Denmark Moves Quickly on Offshore CO₂ Storage

Denmark’s Greensand project moves offshore CO₂ storage toward reality, signaling a competitive European market where early capacity could matter most

23 Jan 2026

Europe’s carbon capture and storage industry is gathering pace, with Denmark seeking an early role in offshore CO₂ storage as projects move from planning to execution.

The Greensand Future project, led by chemicals group INEOS, aims to begin storing captured carbon dioxide beneath the North Sea from mid-2026, subject to regulatory approval. The project will use the depleted Nini oil field, turning an existing offshore asset into long-term storage infrastructure.

Developers say reliance on a former producing field, with decades of geological data, should reduce subsurface risk and shorten development timelines. Initial capacity is expected to be about 400,000 tonnes of CO₂ a year, with plans to expand to up to 8mn tonnes annually by 2030. If delivered on schedule, Greensand would rank among the first operational offshore CO₂ storage sites in the EU.

A central feature of the project is its transport model. Instead of depending entirely on new pipeline networks, Greensand plans to ship liquefied CO₂ to the storage site. This includes a new CO₂ terminal at the Port of Esbjerg and a purpose-built vessel, Carbon Destroyer 1. Developers argue that shipping offers a faster and more flexible option for industrial emitters located far from pipeline routes.

The project has received strong political backing. Denmark’s climate and energy minister, Lars Aagaard, has described Greensand as an important step towards the country’s climate targets, underlining the role of government support in advancing large-scale CCS projects.

Denmark’s push comes as other European initiatives gather momentum. Norway’s Northern Lights project, along with developments in the UK and the Netherlands, is helping establish standards for monitoring, reporting and verification. Together, these projects are turning carbon storage into a commercial service that energy-intensive industries can plan around.

Significant hurdles remain. Offshore construction is costly, equipment supply chains are tight and permitting processes can be slow. But as multiple projects advance in parallel, competition for secure storage capacity is beginning to emerge.

For industrial companies facing pressure to cut emissions, early access to reliable CO₂ storage may become a strategic advantage. Denmark’s offshore programme signals that Europe’s next phase of climate infrastructure is now taking shape.