DNV Provides Safety Verification for Project Greensand’s Pioneering CO2 Storage Solution

Left image: Mick Cramer Jakobsen, Regional Head of Customer Relations for DNV and project director for the safety verification (left), presents the Statement of Conformity to David Bucknall, CEO of INEOS Energy (right). Right image: Mads Gade, Head of Country for INEOS Denmark (left), receives the Statement of Conformity from DNV’s Project Manager Peter Paschke (right).

(IN BRIEF) DNV has officially verified the safety of Project Greensand’s CO2 storage in the North Sea. Project Greensand is a pioneering initiative that demonstrates the transportation of CO2 across borders and offshore storage to mitigate climate change. The safety verification covers all aspects of the project, from fabrication to offshore installation, ensuring compliance with the highest Danish and international standards. Project Greensand aims to store up to 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 per year by 2025/2026 and potentially up to 8 million tonnes per year by 2030. DNV’s extensive involvement in the project included analyzing plans, assessing underground sites, stress testing sub-elements, and approving offshore systems.

(PRESS RELEASE) BÆRUM, 26-Apr-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — DNV, the independent energy expert and assurance provider, has officially verified the safety of all aspects of Project Greensand’s CO2 storage in the North Sea. Project Greensand is a groundbreaking initiative that demonstrates the transportation of CO2 across national borders and its offshore storage as a climate change mitigation measure.

On March 8, HRH Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark inaugurated the underground CO2 storage in Denmark, joined by prominent figures such as Lars Aagaard, Denmark’s Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. At the First Carbon Storage event in Esbjerg, representatives from DNV presented the Statement of Conformity to Project Greensand, symbolizing the official safety approval.

“Our team of experts have worked closely with the Greensand consortium and followed the development of the project over the last few years,” reports Mick Cramer Jakobsen, Regional Head of Customer Relations for DNV and project director for the safety verification. “Our safety verification of Project Greensand’s entire pilot phase clearly shows that the project is fit for purpose, safe and compliant with all relevant Danish and international regulations and the highest standards. Naturally, it will be advantageous to have the safety verification already in place before the next phase of Project Greensand commences.”

DNV’s involvement in Project Greensand spanned several years, encompassing the entire value chain’s concept, design, components, underground sites, and facilities. The safety verification conducted by DNV ensures that Project Greensand adheres to the highest Danish and international safety standards.

“We are delighted that all safety aspects of Project Greensand have been approved by the best in the field,” says Mads Gade, Head of Country for INEOS Denmark. “We are convinced that safety will be a vital competitive parameter in the future CCS market. DNV’s thorough work and verification guarantee that our system can ensure that the stored CO₂ remains underground, and that the safety of our employees remains paramount in the North Sea.”

The safety verification encompasses the fabrication process by individual subcontractors and the offshore installation, providing partners of Project Greensand with a sense of pride and confidence.

Having verified the safety of the pilot phase, Project Greensand can now progress towards its goal of storing up to 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 per year by 2025/2026, with the potential to reach 8 million tonnes per year by 2030. Project Greensand complies with the Offshore Safety Directive, which establishes stringent safety standards for CO2 storage in the North Sea, aligning with those set for oil and gas activities.

Mads Gade explains: “Exceptionally strict requirements have been set for the safety procedures for operations in the North Sea – for instance, through the Offshore Safety Directive. The safety requirements for CO₂ storage onshore are not quite so stringent, but despite the many safety procedures we see these strict requirements as a great asset. The Offshore Safety Directive and other complex laws and regulations mean that our work in the North Sea is protected by both belt and braces. Along with the safety verification from DNV, we have a solution that has already been tested and shown to be safe and effective, and we should continue this going forward when Denmark’s CCS market is to be scaled up further in the future.”

DNV’s involvement in Project Greensand involved extensive analyses of plans, underground site suitability, storage practicability, and designs. DNV also conducted physical stress tests on individual sub-elements, approved offshore system connections and installations throughout the value chain, and facilitated cross-border collaboration.