Denmark inaugurates CO2 storage facility in North Sea

Why in News?

Energy group INEOS announced on 18 September 2026 that its Greensand Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project had begun storing carbon dioxide beneath the North Sea seabed, using geological formations associated with an old oil platform. The project highlights the growing use of carbon capture and geological storage as a technology for reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

About Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) refers to technologies that capture carbon dioxide (CO₂) from industrial sources or directly from the atmosphere and permanently store it in suitable underground geological formations.

The CCS process generally involves capturing CO₂, separating and compressing it, transporting it through pipelines, ships or tanks, and injecting it into deep geological formations, usually at depths of one kilometre or more. Suitable formations can include depleted oil and gas reservoirs and deep saline formations.

CCS can be particularly relevant for emissions from steel, cement, petrochemical and power-generation facilities, where reducing process-related emissions through other means can be difficult.

London Protocol

The London Protocol, adopted under the framework of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), provides an international legal framework governing the disposal of wastes and other matter at sea. It has also established provisions enabling the sub-seabed geological storage of CO₂ under specified conditions.

North Sea

The North Sea is a shallow sea forming a northeastern part of the Atlantic Ocean. It lies between Great Britain and mainland northwestern Europe and is bordered by Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France, as well as the Orkney and Shetland Islands. Its extensive offshore energy infrastructure and geological formations make it an important region for emerging carbon-storage projects.

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