FAQ

Our task is to investigate whether it is possible and safe to store CO2 approximately 1,400 meters below the earth's surface near Kalundborg. The studies involve mapping, exploring, and testing the subsoil, so we ultimately have a solid evidence-based knowledge foundation, which will be handed over to the Danish authorities. Based on this, the authorities can decide whether CO2 should be stored in the subsoil. Only if the authorities determine that the studies meet the requirements and are deemed suitable from a geological, safety, and environmental perspective, can CO2 be stored.

CO2 Storage Kalundborg’s work is divided into three different phases, each involving different types of studies. The surveying phase includes surveying and mapping the subsoil using surface measurement equipment. The exploration phase involves two drillings down to the potential storage site at approximately 1,400 meters depth, as well as investigations of soil layers and geological data. The testing phase includes studies on how the subsoil will absorb CO2 by testing with water and advanced simulation models. 

Our expectation is that the project will last for the next four years, during which we will conduct various studies divided into three main phases: the surveying phase, the exploration phase, and the testing phase. We will begin with the mapping phase, and once it is completed, we will start the exploration and testing phases, which will run in parallel.  

We will not store CO2 in the subsoil as part of the process. Our task is to conduct studies to assess whether CO2 can be stored in the area in the future. We will do this through a surveying phase, an exploration phase, and a testing phase. In the testing phase, depending on what preliminary data shows us, we will either inject water into the subsoil or extract water from the subsoil under controlled conditions and measure it. Based on this, we can create advanced simulation models that are crucial for determining if the subsoil is suitable for CO2 storage. 

No, our studies are conducted under strict safety measures that are continuously monitored to ensure the safety of humans and the environment throughout the entire project.

The risk associated with CO2 storage is limited, and it is unlikely to result in negative consequences for human health, nature, or the water environment. This is shown by the Danish Energy Agency's environmental assessment, which forms the basis for the investigation permit granted to CO2 Storage Kalundborg. 

However, it is still important to take the necessary precautions and thoroughly investigate the conditions before any potential CO2 storage can begin. This is a central objective of CO2 Storage Kalundborg’s studies. 

We will comply with all requirements and guidelines from the authorities in connection with the studies, and we take all necessary precautions to ensure that our investigations do not cause harm. Our activities are continuously monitored, and we adhere to all relevant environmental standards and regulations. 

The storage site to be studied is located approximately 1,400 meters below the surface, beneath large and thick formations of materials such as rock and clay, which act as a thick cap over the potential storage site. 

We cannot avoid increased traffic and noise during certain periods of the project, but we will do our best to minimise any inconvenience as much as possible and continuously inform the local community about our work. 

In the project’s surveying phase, which will start in early 2025, we will be visible for the first approx. 6 months with specially designed surveying vehicles moving around in the area to conduct geological surveys using “subsoil microphones”. The vehicles will move in a “square” area approximately stretching from Nekselø to Saltbæk in the north and from Jorløse to Knabstrup in the south. We expect to use 5-10 vehicles during this period. 

Later, we will establish two test facilities to explore the subsoil further. We expect each of the two test facilities to cover an area of approximately 100 x 100 meters. It is still too early to determine where the two test facilities will be established, as it depends on the results from the surveying phase. Once the exploration and test phases are completed, the two test facilities will be closed down, and the areas will be restored. 

If it turns out that CO2 can be safely stored in the area, a smaller storage facility will be visible on the surface where the test facility previously stood. 

The technologies underpinning the project are well-known and have been tried and tested in Denmark and internationally over many years.  

Three companies are behind CO2 Storage Kalundborg: the Norwegian energy company Equinor (partially owned by the Norwegian state) which has stored nearly 30 million tonnes of CO2 in Norway since 1996. The Danish energy company Ørsted (partially owned by the Danish state) which is developing the Ørsted Kalundborg CO2 Hub to serve as a central point for CO2 handling. The third company in the partnership is the state-owned company Nordsøfonden, which participates in all licenses for the exploration and storage of CO2 in Denmark. 

The project itself does not deliver CO2 reductions, as we will not be storing CO2 as part of the studies. 

Based on current information, significant amounts of CO2 could be stored annually in the Kalundborg area, thereby making a substantial contribution to achieving Danish and European climate ambitions.

In Denmark, there is a broad consensus among experts and politicians that in addition to transitioning to renewable energy, we must capture and store CO2 to mitigate climate change and meet our climate goals. 

In several industries it is currently very challenging or even impossible to avoid CO2 emissions. Therefore, one solution is to capture the CO2 before it reaches the atmosphere. This is particularly relevant for heavy industries such as cement production and waste incineration. 

No. There is a need both to store and limit emissions of CO2. 

In several industries, it is currently very challenging or even impossible to avoid CO2 emissions. Therefore, the solution is to capture the CO2 before it reaches the atmosphere. This is particularly relevant for heavy industries such as cement production and waste incineration.