Frequently Asked Questions

Carbon dioxide, as CO₂ is also called, is naturally occurring and arises, among other things, from the combustion of hydrocarbons, from the breakdown of organic material and from respiration (exhalation).

CO₂ itself is not inherently harmful. The problem arises when CO₂ accumulates excessively in the atmosphere, trapping heat and disturbing Earth's delicate balance. Over time the extraction and burning of fossil fuels have upset this natural state. CO₂ capture and storage (CCS) offer a solution to restore this balance and mitigate the harm to our climate.

No, CO₂ can neither burn nor explode. On the contrary, CO₂ is used in fire extinguishers, as the CO₂ gas cools and suffocates the fire.

CO₂ can be captured using chemical processes, such as adsorption or absorption, or by physical separation, such as cryogenic or membrane separation methods. A popular method is post-combustion capture, where CO₂ is captured after it has been produced in a power plant or a factory.

Yes. The sole purpose of CO₂ capture and storage is to limit global warming.

There are several means of transporting CO₂ after it is captured, including pipe, truck, ship or train. The most common transport method is via pipe, as this is the most efficient way to handle large volumes of CO₂

CO₂ can be transported by ship in tankers specially designed to handle high pressure and low temperature. CO2 is normally transported in a liquid state by keeping it at low temperature and high pressure.

We're exploring various reception options for CO₂ when it arrives in Rødby, regardless of the mode of transport. Our aim is to make CO₂ handling as sustainable, cost-effective, and flexible as possible. Before we can store the CO₂ underground, it must be temporarily stored in an intermediate facility after receipt. We're looking at both land-based intermediate storage solutions and alternative options. The key is to establish a solution that can define the future of CO₂ transport, import, and storage in Denmark. We expect that the CO₂ will primarily come to Rødby via ship transport, but it's also possible that CO₂ could arrive in Rødby by train, truck, or pipelines.

‍

The CO₂ is injected into the storage site in liquid form. Thick sealing layers of clay keep the CO₂ in place down in the storage, where it is mixed with the salt water found naturally in the underground. These are the same clay layers that have kept oil and gas in place in the Danish underground for millions of years. In the long term, the CO₂ will be transformed into minerals.

The National Geological Surveys of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) estimate that there is a total storage potential of between 12 and 22 billion ton CO₂ in the Danish underground. This is between 400 and 700 times greater than Denmark's total CO₂ emissions at the current level.

The technology has been around for over 40 years. More than 200 million tons of CO₂ have been captured and injected underground. On the Sleipner field in the Norwegian part of the North Sea, a capture plant was installed in 1996, which has since captured up to 1 million tonnes of CO₂ per year from the produced gas. After capture, the CO2 has been re-injected into the underground, where it is now stored.

Scattered all over the world, there are today a large number of both large and small CCS facilities. The majority of the existing CO₂ storage sites are located in the USA and Canada. There are large CO₂ storage sites on the way in, among other places, Norway, the USA and the UK. The first two places in Denmark where CO₂ storage will take place will be at the gas storage facility in Stenlille and in Project Greensand in the North Sea.

Since CarbonCuts was founded in 2022  we have been in close dialogues with authorities, politicians, other stakeholders, landowners, and interested citizens in Rødby. We will continue to do so and are keen to share more about our ambitions and plans with all interested parties. We expect to hold a series of dialogue meetings with citizens and other interested individuals during 2024 – and we look forward to the conversation. CO₂ storage is new to Danes, generating both curiosity and questions about the technology and, of course, the Ruby Project. We are prepared to answer any questions that may arise.