Vattenfall - Northern Denmark

Photo: Vattenfall

Vattenfall´s CCS demonstration project in northern Denmark

On February 5, 2008 Vattenfall announced the intention to develop a full-scale Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS) demonstration project in Denmark. By 2013, the Nordjylland Power Station (Nordjyllandsværket) will release only small amounts of CO₂ to the atmosphere. Instead, the CO₂ will be captured and transported to a geological structure where it will be stored in a reservoir at a depth between one and two kilometres below the surface in northern Jutland.

As a first step towards the fulfilment of this demonstration project, Vattenfall has asked a team of engineers and geologists to start investigations to ensure that CO₂ storage is a realistic possibility at Vedsted in northern Jutland. If the storage proves feasible, the intention is to establish a full-scale CO₂ capture plant in 2013 at Nordjyllandsværket (Aalborg), the most efficient coal-fired power plant in the world. The CO₂ will in liquid form be transported to the storage via a 30 km long pipeline.

Vattenfall is planning to carry out studies to assess the deep geological structure in two phases; a seismic survey in 2008 and appraisal drilling in 2009. The aim is to confirm the expectations regarding storage capacity, injectivity and structural containment, indicating that the geology of northern Jutland would be well suited for safe, long-term storage of CO₂. Based on the results of investigations of the geological structure, an investment decision is planned for late 2010.

A main objective of the demonstration project is to contribute to the development of a significant energy loss reduction in the capture process. Certain suppliers already claim that a dramatic reduction of the energy penalty can be achieved. Technology choices for the capture plant will be made as late as possible in order so safeguard the use of cutting-edge technology.