The Launch of Europe’s First CO2 Carrier for Greensand CCS Project

The first European built CO2 carrier, dedicated for work at the Greensand carbon capture and storage (CCS) project, is set to be christened and launched on May 14, 2025. This milestone marks a significant step towards establishing the EU’s first full-scale CCS value chain.

All ship sections of the vessel have been successfully constructed and assembled at Royal Niestern Sander shipyard in the north of the Netherlands. The partnership between INEOS and Wagenborg for the delivery of the new-build CO2 carrier was signed in November 2024.

Wagenborg and Royal Niestern Sander have a history of pioneering game-changing vessels, and the dedicated CO2 carrier is specifically designed to transport liquefied CO2 from onshore capture sites to offshore storage in the Danish part of the North Sea.

Key Features of the CO2 Carrier

Once operational, the carrier will sail regular routes from Port Esbjerg to the Nini West platform for the injection of CO2 into the Nini reservoir approximately 1,800 meters beneath the seabed. The vessel is designed to meet the highest standards for safety and environmental performance, with specific technical requirements for CO2 transport.

The completion of the ship’s hull marks the beginning of the next construction phase, including retrofitting, commissioning, testing, and sea trials. The vessel’s onboard cooling and pressure systems are tailored for the safe transport of CO2.

Project Greensand’s Progress

The CO2 carrier milestone is a part of the larger Greensand project, which aims to become Europe’s first CO2 storage facility. INEOS and its partners Harbour Energy and Nordsøfonden made the Final Investment Decision (FID) in December 2024 to move ahead with full-scale CO2 storage operations in the Nini Field.

With plans to initiate safe and permanent CO2 storage by late 2025/early 2026, Greensand is on track to become the EU’s first operational CO2 storage facility, contributing to efforts to mitigate climate change. The expected investments exceeding $150 million across the Greensand CCS value chain will scale up storage capacity.

The arrival of the new CO2 carrier will enable safe, efficient, and scalable transport of captured CO2 to the Danish storage site, supporting the project’s goal of storing 400,000 tonnes of CO2 annually with the potential to scale up to 8 million tonnes per year by 2030.

Project Greensand aims to begin regular offshore CO2 injection by the end of 2025 or early 2026, further solidifying its position as a key player in Europe’s climate goals.