Denmark grants special status to Aalborg Portland's CO₂ capture project

Danish cement producer Aalborg Portland has received special status for its CO₂ capture project ACCSION, allowing the company to expedite its efforts to capture 1.4 million metric tons of CO₂ annually from cement production, it said in a statement Nov. 25.

This project is the first of its kind in Denmark and the first carbon capture and storage initiative in the EU to gain national recognition.

"With the special status granted to Aalborg Portland's green project, we ensure that CO₂ capture can move forward faster," Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs Morten Bodskov said. "It's a step in the right direction for both our climate and our business sector. I hope more companies will join so we can accelerate the green transition together."

Climate, Energy and Utilities Minister Lars Aagaard echoed this sentiment, saying the approval of Aalborg Portland's project signaled a commitment to facilitating CO₂ capture, transport and storage efforts in Denmark.

"It must be easier and faster to get CO₂ capture, transport and storage projects off the ground in Denmark," Aagaard said, expressing hope that more projects will follow.

With this recognition, Aalborg Portland can now access various benefits aimed at streamlining the permitting and regulatory processes for the ACCSION project. The company will also receive advisory support from the Net-Zero Europe Platform regarding financing and can utilize the Danish Business Authority's One-Stop Shop for establishing production facilities.

The CO₂ capture project ACCSION is expected to reduce Aalborg Portland's CO₂ emissions by a total of 1.5 million mt, of which 1.4 million mt will be captured by the facility, while the remaining 100,000 mt will be reduced through waste-heat utilization. The facility will enable Aalborg Portland to become CO₂ neutral in its own direct emissions by 2030.

"The status helps us move faster through the required regulatory processes and brings us closer to realising a facility capable of capturing 1.4 million tonnes of CO₂ annually from 2030," Soren Holm Christensen, CEO of Aalborg Portland, said. "We see it as clear recognition and endorsement of the project's significance -- for Aalborg Portland, for Denmark and for the European transition."

Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, last assessed the CEMDEX Turkey price, reflecting Ordinary Portland Cement CEM I 42.5R (bulk), at $53.50/mt FOB on Nov. 20.