INEOS has opened the first full-scale CO2 storage site in the EU

• The opening was attended by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Chairman of INEOS, European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen, Danish Minister of Finance Peter Hummelgaard, Paloma Aba Garrote, Director of CINEA, and other industry and policy leaders from across the European Union. 

• Greensand expects to store up to 400,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually in this first commercial phase, scaling toward a potential of up to 4–8 million tonnes annually at full capacity. 

• Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Chairman of INEOS said: "Europe will not achieve net zero by closing factories and exporting jobs. Government needs to work hand in hand with industry to allow industry to remain competitive while reducing emissions. Greensand proves this can be done. So, Greensand works. The storage is ready. We are open for business." 

• European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen said: “Today marks an important milestone for Europe. With the launch, here in Esbjerg, of the first fully operational site for offshore carbon storage in the European Union, we prove that carbon storage is a practical reality. We show that we can move from demonstration to deployment. We set out a path for European industries: to continue their transition to a low-carbon future, while maintaining production, investments, and employment in our continent. And we open a new front in the existential fight against climate change.” 

• Danish Minister of Finance Peter Hummelgaard said: “Project Greensand is a concrete example of how green technology can strengthen both Europe’s climate action and our resilience. Today, we are taking a major step forward and Denmark is leading the way on behalf of Europe. Today, we are not merely opening a facility, we are opening a new chapter for our shared climate ambitions.” 

 His Majesty King Frederik X of Denmark today officially opened the first full-scale facility for the permanent storage of CO₂ in the European Union. The opening took place at a ceremony at the Port of Esbjerg marking Greensand’s move into commercial operation. 

For the first time, Greensand provides industry across the EU with the infrastructure it needs to transport and permanently store CO₂ and offers a practical route to reducing emissions without shutting down the industries that Europe depends upon. 

The opening was attended by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Chairman of INEOS, European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen, Danish Minister of Finance Peter Hummelgaard, Paloma Aba Garrote, Director of CINEA, and other industry and policy leaders from across the European Union. 

European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen said: “Today marks an important milestone for Europe. With the launch, here in Esbjerg, of the first fully operational site for offshore carbon storage in the European Union, we prove that carbon storage is a practical reality. We show that we can move from demonstration to deployment. We set out a path for European industries: to continue their transition to a low-carbon future, while maintaining production, investments, and employment in our continent. And we open a new front in the existential fight against climate change.” 

Danish Minister of Finance Peter Hummelgaard said: “Project Greensand is a concrete example of how green technology can strengthen both Europe’s climate action and our resilience. Today, we are taking a major step forward and Denmark is leading the way on behalf of Europe. Today, we are not merely opening a facility, we are opening a new chapter for our shared climate ambitions.” 

Paloma Aba Garrote, Director of CINEA said: “Today’s celebration is therefore more than a technical achievement. It represents a tangible step towards climate neutrality, a demonstration of the EU’s capacity to reduce CO₂ emissions while safeguarding competitiveness and jobs across Europe. It shows that when industrial ambition is matched with strong public support and a collaborative spirit, real impact becomes possible.” 

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Chairman of INEOS, said: “Europe will not achieve net zero by closing factories and exporting jobs. Government needs to work hand in hand with industry to allow industry to remain competitive while reducing emissions. Greensand proves this can be done. So, Greensand works. The storage is ready. We are open for business.” 

With the opening on 18 September, permanent full-scale CO₂ storage enters operation in the EU. The question that follows is how quickly the EU establishes the regulatory, infrastructure and investment conditions that allow industrial emitters to capture CO₂ at scale. 

Mads Gade, CEO of INEOS Energy Europe, said: “Greensand starts with biogenic1 CO₂, but its significance reaches far beyond that first step. We are ready to expand capacity to receive CO₂ from industries across Europe. Greensand is open for business, and a new European market for permanent CO₂ storage can now begin to take shape.

About Greensand 

• Greensand is a world-leading CO₂ storage facility forming part of a full carbon capture and storage (CCS) value chain – capturing CO₂, transporting it by ship and permanently storing it deep beneath the seabed in the Danish North Sea. The project is led by INEOS Energy, with partners Harbour Energy and the Danish North Sea Fund (Nordsøfonden). 

• Greensand expects to store up to 400,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually in this first commercial phase, scaling toward an expected 4–8 million tonnes annually at full capacity. 

• In this first phase, the CO₂ entering the Greensand value chain comes primarily from Danish biomethane producers. 

• A dedicated CO₂ terminal at Port Esbjerg, Denmark, provides temporary storage for liquefied CO₂ arriving by truck from capture sites. 

• CO₂ is shipped from Esbjerg to the offshore storage site aboard Carbon Destroyer 1 – the EU’s first purpose-built, dedicated CO₂ carrier vessel. 

• CO₂ is permanently stored in the Nini West reservoir, a depleted oil field around 250 kilometres offshore in the Danish North Sea, approximately 1,800 metres beneath the seabed. 

• The integrity of the Greensand Nini reservoir in the North Sea has been tested by the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS), and Greensand has received safety approval from the world-leading independent verifier DNV. 

About INEOS 

INEOS products are essential in the modern world. Incredibly versatile, petrochemicals are used in a wide range of end-market applications to save lives, improve health and enhance standards of living. INEOS Group is a global manufacturer of petrochemicals, speciality chemicals and oil products. Our scope of operations has diversified with the launch of INEOS Automotive and the acquisition of our professional sports portfolio including football, cycling, and Formula1. INEOS comprises of 28 individual businesses; we operate 148 facilities in 26 countries around the world employing around 23,000 people 

INEOS Energy produces and trades oil, gas and LNG while developing carbon storage and other low-carbon energy solutions. The business is focused on keeping energy secure, affordable and reliable while building the infrastructure needed to decarbonise industry and support economic growth. Established in 2020 INEOS Energy oversees the company's exploration and production activities focus on onshore and offshore oil and gas assets in the North Sea, in the UK, Denmark and USA. In recent years, it has made investments in low-carbon technologies, including, hydrogen and Carbon Capture and Storage. 

About Harbour Energy 

Since its creation in 2014, Harbour has grown to become one of the world’s largest and most geographically diverse independent oil and gas companies. Today, Harbour has significant production in Norway, the UK, Germany, Argentina and North Africa. Harbour benefits from competitive operating costs and resilient margins, and a broad set of growth options including near-infrastructure opportunities in Norway, unconventional scalable opportunities in Argentina and conventional offshore projects in Mexico and Indonesia. With low GHG emissions intensity and a leading CO₂ storage position in Europe, Harbour remains committed to producing oil and gas safely and responsibly to help meet the world’s energy needs. Harbour is headquartered in London with approximately 5,000 staff and contractors across its operations and offices. 

About Nordsøfonden 

Nordsøfonden is the Danish state company tasked with generating value for Danish society by optimising the potential of Denmark’s subsurface assets. Nordsøfonden stands on two pillars; production of oil & gas, thereby helping ensure supplies of energy and raw materials, whilst at the same time participating in all licenses for underground carbon storage, where Nordsøfonden works to ensure reduction of emissions to the atmosphere. 

Greensand is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.