Denmark’s Norne Carbon Storage Hub Secures 30-Year Agreement with Port of Aalborg

Denmark-based energy infrastructure company Fidelis New Energy’s portfolio company, Norne, has recently finalized a 30-year agreement with the Port of Aalborg for the Norne carbon dioxide (CO2) reception facility.

The Norne Carbon Storage Hub, supported by an EU Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) grant, aims to expedite the development of crucial cross-border energy infrastructure. The site, following thorough FEED studies, is now operational.

The CEF funding will facilitate the construction of a 500-meter quay at the Port of Aalborg to bolster the Norne CO2 facilities, catering to various Danish carbon dioxide storage sites. The initiative also intends to explore industrial CO2 utilization and the production of decarbonized fuels.

Since the agreement was signed in 2021, the Norne site has been equipped with advanced carbon dioxide reception facilities and pipelines to transport CO2 to underground storage facilities in Denmark.

By the mid-2030s, the hub is expected to handle at least 15 million tonnes of CO2 annually, significantly reducing Denmark’s carbon emissions. This initiative not only enhances Denmark’s marine economy but also aids in achieving national decarbonization targets for 2030 and 2050.

Lars Bo Christiansen, President of Norne, expressed optimism about the long-term partnership with the Port of Aalborg, the EU, and the Danish Government, emphasizing the goal of attracting new decarbonization projects to the region.

Environmental assessments have been conducted, and in November 2023, Norne was designated as a Project of Common Interest (PCI) by the EU, expediting the environmental impact assessment process for the pipeline.

In May 2023, Norne and the Port of Aalborg announced plans for Denmark’s first carbon dioxide handling facility, capable of processing up to four million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually from 2026 onwards, with potential capacity expansion in the future.

Looking ahead, Fidelis New Energy aims to establish additional sites in Kalundborg by 2027, complementing the existing facility in Aalborg.