General and specialist media inquiries
Contact INNO-CCUS
Director Karina Marie Søgaard
kamam@inno-ccus.dtu.dk
+45 93 51 03 01
or
Communication officer Christina Høyer
cstho@inno-ccus.dtu.dk
+45 28 22 55 55
Facts and Roadmap
Read about developments, opportunities,
and the strategic paths that
Denmark should pursue to realise CCUS technologies.
Roadmap 2050 – full report
Roadmap 2025 – executive summary
Expert list
Need an expert in Carbon capture, nature-based solutions, storage, utilisation, and the coupling to society?
Why not contact our heads of workstreams, all acknowledged experts and skilled communicators in their field?
Download a list of INNO-CCUS experts
Press Bio Karina Marie Søgaard
The Director of INNO-CCUS is an experienced communicator who bridges science, innovation and funding.
She brings national and international insight into advancing CCUS solutions.
Download the directors Press Bio
Carbon Capture, utalisation and storage, for general and specialists media inquiries
1. What is CCUS in simple terms?
CCUS stands for Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage. It refers to technologies that capture CO₂ from industrial processes or directly from the air – and either store it underground or use it to produce new materials like fuels or building products.
2. Why is Denmark investing in this now?
Because some emissions are simply too hard to avoid. CCUS is one of the few ways to deal with CO₂ from sectors like construction and waste management. Without it, Denmark cannot reach its legally binding climate goals – including 110% net reduction by 2050.
3. Is this just about cleaning up fossil fuels?
No. In Denmark, CCUS is primarily seen as a tool for reaching more than net zero – the national goal is to reduce emissions by 110% by 2050, meaning we must actively remove more CO₂ than we emit.
While CCUS can reduce emissions from fossil sources, its primary role is to deal with residual emissions from sectors like cement and waste incineration – and to enable permanent carbon removal through storage or bio-based capture. It is not an excuse to keep emitting; it is part of a serious strategy to go beyond neutrality.
4. Which type of projects are part of INNO-CCUS?
We support over 30 research and development projects across five fields: chemical capture, biological processes, storage, utilisation, and system-level integration. All projects are partnerships between research institutions and companies.
5. Who’s funding all this?
INNO-CCUS is a publicly funded partnership, supported by the Danish government through Innovation Fund Denmark. Industry, universities, and other partners co-finance the work, ensuring both public value and private commitment. Today we fund more than 30 research and innovation projects across the CCUS field.
A full list of projects is available here.
6. Which technologies are being tested?
INNO-CCUS is currently funding more than 30 projects, covering a wide mix of carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) technologies in Denmark. Some focus on engineering and geology, others on regulation and society – because both matter if CCUS is to succeed at scale.
On the capture side, several teams are working with Direct Air Capture (DAC), where CO₂ is pulled straight out of the atmosphere. It is an energy-intensive process today, but powered by renewables it could one day deliver genuine negative emissions. Others are looking at biogenic CO₂ capture from biomass and waste, which are important sources in Denmark’s carbon footprint.
For storage, the focus is on Denmark’s unique geological conditions. Studies by GEUS indicate that the Danish subsurface could hold up to 22 billion tonnes of CO₂ – equal to hundreds of years of Denmark’s current emissions. Pilot injections have already been carried out, and future projects are centred on scaling up storage capacity while developing robust methods to monitor the long-term behaviour of CO₂ underground. Denmark is among the first countries in Europe moving from small-scale pilots to preparing for large-scale CO₂ storage.
Finally, Denmark’s strong tradition in energy systems is part of the mix. Projects are exploring how captured CO₂ can be integrated with district heating, turning what is normally a waste stream into a resource that helps heat Danish homes.
Alongside the technical work, INNO-CCUS also supports projects on policy, costs, and public acceptance of CCUS. The point is simple: climate technologies only make a difference if they are not just technically possible, but also affordable, trusted, and governed responsibly.
In practice, INNO-CCUS supports more than 30 research and innovation projects that follow the pathways set out in the Danish CCUS Roadmap 2024. These projects bring together universities, companies, and public institutions to test solutions in real settings – from laboratory studies and pilot plants to field demonstrations.
7. How mature is this technology, really?
The core technologies behind CCUS are already well tested and have been used safely around the world for decades. What Denmark is doing now is adapting and scaling these solutions to our own conditions – from capture at local industries to storage in the Danish subsoil. That is why research, pilot projects, and close monitoring are so important, and that safety and transparency are guaranteed throughout the process.
8. What’s Denmark’s potential for underground CO₂ storage?
Geological assessments suggest that Denmark’s subsurface could hold 12–22 billion tonnes of CO₂, far more than the country emits. Most of this capacity lies offshore in the North Sea, where saline aquifers and depleted oil and gas reservoirs are well mapped.
Onshore potential also exists, particularly in Jutland’s Gassum formation and on Sjælland by Kalundborg, where early studies indicate hundreds of millions of tonnes could be stored. Exploration licences have recently been awarded, but future use will depend on thorough studies as well as political decisions and broad public trust.
9. What are the main risks or concerns?
The most frequently raised issues are energy use, costs, and public trust. Capturing and compressing CO₂ requires large amounts of energy, which makes efficiency and integration with renewable energy sources a central research question. Costs remain a barrier as well, both in terms of upfront investments and the long-term price of storing each tonne of CO₂.
Public trust is another key factor. Large-scale infrastructure, whether offshore pipelines or onshore storage sites, must be developed transparently and with clear governance around liability, safety, and monitoring. Without broad societal confidence, projects risk delays regardless of technical readiness.
There is also a broader debate about the role of CCUS in climate policy. Specialists point out that CCUS can enable deep decarbonisation in hard-to-abate sectors like cement, steel, and waste management. At the same time, critics warn that CCUS might be misused to prolong fossil fuel dependency instead of driving systemic change toward renewables and efficiency.
For this reason, INNO-CCUS funds not only technical projects but also research into economics, regulation, and societal perspectives. This helps ensure that Danish CCUS development addresses not just the engineering challenges but also the broader policy and community dimensions that determine whether the technology succeeds at scale.
10. What distinguishes Denmark’s CCUS approach from other countries?
Denmark’s strategy is anchored in a national target of 110% emission reductions by 2050, meaning active carbon removal is central—not just mitigation. The country is also unique in combining large geological storage potential with a mission-driven innovation model, linking public R&D funding directly to industry collaboration.
Do you need more detail on this? Take a look at INNO-CCUS’ Roadmap. It provides a detailed status of developments, opportunities, and the strategic paths that Denmark should pursue to realise the potential of CCUS technologies.
11. What is the status of CO₂ storage in Danish subsoil?
The Danish underground, especially in the North Sea, is well mapped after decades of oil and gas exploration. Current focus areas are saline aquifers, which are deep layers of porous rock filled with saltwater that can hold injected CO₂, and depleted oil and gas reservoirs, where most hydrocarbons have already been removed and the geology is well known.
In addition to offshore storage, there is potential for onshore storage in certain geological formations in Jutland. These options are still being assessed, and any move toward onshore storage will depend on thorough geological studies as well as public and political acceptance.
Several pilot projects are underway, and there is strong public focus on monitoring, liability, and long-term governance.
12. How can I get technical details or talk to a specialist?
You’re welcome to contact INNO-CCUS. We can connect you to the right expert – whether you’re looking into geochemical storage, policy design, DAC pilot projects or biomass-based pathways.
INNO-CCUS’ contact information is at the top of this page.
13: How do CCUS terms translate between English and Danish?
CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage) → CO₂-fangst, -anvendelse og -lagring
Direct Air Capture (DAC) → Direkte luftindfangning
Hard-to-abate industries → Svære-til-at-reducere industrier
Sustainable finance → Bæredygtig finansiering
Blended finance → Blandet finansiering
Carbon credits → CO₂-kreditter
Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) → Kulstoffjernelse
Carbon removal → CO₂-fjernelse
CCUS research → CCUS forskning
CCUS partners → CCUS partnere
CCUS events → CCUS arrangementer
IEAGHG CCUS insights → IEAGHG CCUS indsigter
ECCSEL ERIC CCUS facilities → ECCSEL ERIC CCUS faciliteter
CCUS membership → CCUS medlemskab
CCUS innovation → CCUS innovation
Carbon neutrality → Klimaneutralitet
110% climate target → 110 % klimamål
70% 2030 target (CCUS) → 70 % reduktionsmål 2030
CO₂ storage potential → CO₂-lagringspotentiale
Green transition (CCUS) → Grøn omstilling (CCUS)
