Themes and projects
Chemical CO2 capture
Currently CO2 capture technology in Denmark is developed for small sized CO2 reduction applications. The largest CO2 capture technology users are in the order of 50 Kton/year (0.05 Mt/year). As a short-term goal (2025) this needs to be scaled up to end-users with a demand of 0.5 up to 2 Mt/year.
This calls for innovation, allowing for reduced cost of materials, large-scale process equipment, energy efficiency, optimization of land use and considerations towards industrial integration allowing reuse of heat and cyclic application of resources.
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Workstream leader
Philip Fosbøl
Philip Fosbøl is working with a portfolio of CO2-capture topics:
- CO2 absorption for emissions reduction.
- Energy optimal solvent based CO2 desorption in relation to reboiling in stripping or rectification.
- CO2 corrosion in energy production and transport.
- CO2 compression with impurities focus.
Biological CO2 capture and storage
Natural biological systems capture CO2 by photosynthesis and storage in biomass and ecosystems is an ongoing natural process already contributing to storage of carbon. The storage is strongly affected by land management options such as plant selection, soil and crop management and the end use of the biomass produced.
Potentials in increasing and strengthening contributions from biomass storage to the 2030 and 2050 targets in Denmark are significant and include both increased C-uptake (additionality) and stabilization of carbon stored in terrestrial and marine ecosystems (permanence). Danish research and traditions in land and ecosystem management provides a unique basis for improving and increasing carbon storage in biobased systems or materials through targeted management.
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Workstream leader
Claus Beier
Claus Beier has focused his research on ecosystem responses to air pollution and climate change – in particular impacts on ecosystem functioning and feedback to the atmosphere.
Geological CO2 Storage
Permanent storage of CO2 in geological structures will be required to reach net-zero or negative emissions. The Danish underground has ample potential for storage of CO2, making it relevant not only to store Danish emissions, but also to act as a storage hub for Northern Europe.
Pilot CO2 injections are planned for the coming years, but the successful implementation of large-scale CO2 storage in Denmark calls for up-scaling through research on the expected behaviour of the injected CO2 in the subsurface and development of safe and cost-efficient monitoring methods.
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Workstream leader
Marie Kløve Keiding
Marie has a background in geophysical monitoring techniques that are needed to secure safe and cost-efficient storage of CO2 in geological formations and is involved in a number of international research projects on geological storage.
CO2 utilisation
CO2 utilisation for chemicals and carbon-rich materials is expected to be a key element in the carbon cycle to reach the net-zero 2050 target. Even though recycling of materials is expected to be considerably improved, a continuous feed of carbon-based materials is still necessary.
The CO2 utilization industry is expected to grow, and Denmark has the potential to become a world leader, exporting knowledge to Europe and abroad.
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Workstream leader
Thomas Lundgaard
Deputy Head of Institute at Aarhus University, External relations and partnerships
Society and Systems Analysis
CCUS is a case of developing a new infrastructure sector that comprises a set of inter-dependent up-stream and down-stream activities. It will also require coordinated development of both supply and demand sides. The new sector will also be an integral part of the larger energy system and decarbonization efforts.
This will require an inter-sectorial, long-term model for cooperation between public, private, and other stakeholders. Efforts to reduce uncertainty and de-risking of the sector will have a positive effect on the willingness to invest and cost of capital in this sector.
In order to achieve this, the CCUS sector will not only require technological solutions and innovation, but will need to be accompanied by appropriate economic, regulatory, business models, and policy frameworks as well as social acceptance. Some of these aspects are the subject of the research projects in this workstream.
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Workstream leader
Tooraj Jamasb
Tooraj Jamasb is CBS Endowed Professor of Energy Economics and Director for Copenhagen School of Energy Infrastructure (CSEI). Professor Jamasb has participated on research and consulting projects for the Council of European Energy Regulators, several European energy regulators, energy companies, Ofgem, Department of Energy and Climate Change, and The World Bank.
