Ørsted Moves Forward with Denmark’s First Full-Scale Carbon Capture and Storage Project at Kalundborg CO2 Hub

Ørsted Moves Forward with Denmark’s First Full-Scale Carbon Capture and Storage Project at Kalundborg CO2 Hub

(IN BRIEF) Ørsted has made a significant step towards the realization of Denmark’s first full-scale carbon capture and storage project, the Ørsted Kalundborg CO2 Hub, with the successful installation of key components at Avedøre and Asnæs Power Stations. This milestone is a crucial part of the project, which aims to capture 430,000 tonnes of biogenic CO2 annually, significantly contributing to Denmark’s climate goals. The project involves the installation of absorbers, desorbers, and direct contact coolers that will help capture and store CO2 emissions from both power stations. As Ørsted continues with the installation of internals and piping, it also prepares for the transportation of the captured CO2 to the Northern Lights storage reservoir in the North Sea. The Ørsted Kalundborg CO2 Hub is set to be operational by early 2026, marking a vital milestone in Denmark’s carbon reduction efforts.

(PRESS RELEASE) FREDERICIA, 25-Feb-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Ørsted has made significant progress in advancing Denmark’s first full-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) project, the ‘Ørsted Kalundborg CO2 Hub’, with the successful installation of five key components at two major power stations. The absorbers, desorbers, and direct contact coolers, integral parts of the carbon capture facilities under construction at Asnæs and Avedøre Power Stations, were carefully lifted into place. This milestone brings Denmark a step closer to realizing its ambitious CO2 reduction goals.

The project, which aims to be operational by early 2026, has now entered a critical phase with the installation of the equipment that will enable the facilities to capture and store carbon dioxide. Three of the sets were installed at Asnæs Power Station, while two were positioned at Avedøre Power Station. This marks a key point in the timeline of the Ørsted Kalundborg CO2 Hub, which will capture 430,000 tonnes of biogenic CO2 each year from two combined heat and power plants.

Ole Thomsen, Senior Vice President and Head of Bioenergy at Ørsted, expressed pride in the progress made: “The lifting of the absorbers, desorbers, and direct contact coolers is a crucial milestone. These components are vital to the functionality of the carbon capture process, and their installation is a significant step toward the realisation of the Ørsted Kalundborg CO2 Hub.”

Work is now underway to complete the installation of internal systems and piping that will connect these key components to the power stations. Furthermore, Ørsted has received the CO2 storage tanks, where captured CO2 will be temporarily stored before being transported to the Northern Lights storage reservoir in the North Sea once the project is operational.

The Ørsted Kalundborg CO2 Hub, awarded a 20-year contract by the Danish Energy Agency in May 2023, will help mitigate climate change by capturing and storing biogenic CO2 emissions from the straw- and woodchip-fired plants at Avedøre and Asnæs. This initiative is part of Denmark’s broader effort to reduce its carbon footprint and support the transition to a more sustainable energy system.

The Ørsted Kalundborg CO2 Hub is expected to be operational in early 2026, marking a major milestone in Denmark’s CCS journey and contributing significantly to the country’s climate targets.

How the key components work:

The absorbers, desorbers, and direct contact coolers each serve a specific role in the carbon capture process:

• Direct Contact Cooler (DCC): This component cools the flue gas by spraying water directly into it, removing impurities and lowering the temperature to improve carbon capture efficiency.
• Absorber: It removes CO2 from the flue gas by passing it through a liquid that chemically binds the carbon dioxide. The CO2-rich liquid is then sent to the desorber for further treatment.
• Desorber: This heats the CO2-rich liquid to release the carbon dioxide, which is then collected, compressed, and stored or utilized.

Each unit is capable of capturing 12.5 tonnes of CO2 per hour.

Facts about the Ørsted Kalundborg CO2 Hub Project:

• The project will capture and store 430,000 tonnes of CO2 annually from 2026, equivalent to the emissions of around 200,000 petrol-powered vehicles.
• Ørsted will manage the entire CCS value chain, capturing 150,000 tonnes of biogenic CO2 annually from Avedøre Power Station’s straw-fired unit and 280,000 tonnes from Asnæs Power Station’s wood chip-fired unit.
• The captured CO2 will be transported to the Northern Lights storage facility in the North Sea, contributing to Denmark’s broader efforts to combat climate change through the storage of biogenic carbon.

For more information, visit the Ørsted Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) page.

Contact Information
Frederik Høj Rühne
freho@orsted.com
+45 99 55 72 77

SOURCE: Ørsted A/S