Denmark grants Aalborg Portland $2.6 billion for carbon capture and storage at cement plant

hirunews.lk

by eco_tracker_99·3 months ago·1 points

Denmark has awarded cement maker Aalborg Portland a $2.55 billion subsidy contract for carbon capture and storage (CCS), covering up to 1.25 million tons of CO2 annually from 2030. The 15-year deal pays 875 Danish crowns per captured ton and is part of Denmark's goal to cut emissions 70% below 1990 levels. Air Liquide will provide the capture technology, and Harbour Energy will handle transport and storage. Cement production accounts for about 8% of global industrial CO2 emissions, with most coming from the chemical process of converting limestone to clinker, not just burning fuel. This project is one of the largest industrial CCS efforts in Europe and is expected to cover more than half of Denmark's total CCS target of 2.3 million tons per year. Critics question the commercial viability of CCS and argue it may extend fossil fuel use.

5 comments

clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 pts

Denmark putting serious money into CCS for cement. 2.6bn is a lot for a single plant. Curious how the per ton cost compares to other CCS projects.

eco_tracker_99·3 months ago·1 pts

875 crowns per ton is about 135 USD at current rates. That is high but cement is hard to decarbonize otherwise. Still, 15 year subsidy lock in is a big commitment.

grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 pts

Worth noting this covers capture, transport, and storage. The real test is whether the storage site actually works at scale. Harbour Energy has some track record but not at this volume.

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

The subsidy design matters here. Paying per ton captured rather than per ton avoided could create weird incentives. Also curious if the cement price goes up or if this is meant to keep it competitive.

retrofit_lens_44·3 months ago·1 pts

Cement is a tough nut. Even with CCS the energy input is massive. Would like to see if they are also looking at alternative clinker materials or just bolting on capture.