Wintershall Dea has partnered with Fluxys to explore the option of developing a CO2 pipeline network between Germany and Belgium. The plan would allow the delivery of CO2 from industrial clusters in southern Germany to offshore CCS storage locations in the North Sea, via the port of Zeebrugge in Belgium. Wintershall Dea would develop the planned gas pipeline network in Germany with Fluxys doing the same in Belgium.
Fluxys, a Belgium-based transmission system operator, is building a CO2 center in Zeebrugge as a collection point for the onward transport of industrial emissions to secure storage sites under the seabed of the North Sea. Wintershall Dea is also planning a CO2 hub, called CO2nnectNow, in Wilhelmshaven on Germany’s North Sea coast, a statement from Wintershall said.
As part of their cooperation, the two companies are also evaluating jointly developing an offshore transport system, starting from Zeebrugge and Wilhelmshaven, to CO2 storage sites in the North Sea, according to the statement.
“With Fluxys, we have a solid partner to advance the expansion of the CO2 transport network and thus create the necessary infrastructure for the capture and storage of the industry’s CO2 emissions,” says Hugo Dijkgraaf, Chief Technology Officer of Wintershall Dea and member of its executive. blackboard “In northern Germany, we are already well positioned through our planned CO2 center in Wilhelmshaven. Through our cooperation with Fluxys, we now also want to offer opportunities for the decarbonization of industrial facilities in southern Germany” .
“We are delighted to cooperate with Wintershall Dea to accelerate the decarbonisation of industry in southern Germany and beyond. The initiative fits perfectly with Fluxys’ strategy to be the essential partner to accelerate the energy transition”, says Pascal De Buck , CEO of Fluxys Belgium. “One of our key focus areas is to develop an open access CO2 infrastructure to accommodate the carbon capture and storage chain. The CCS chain is essential for industry to decarbonize while maintaining economic activity and employment. Our ambition is to provide the market with the necessary capacity to transport 30 million tonnes of CO2 by 2030.”
Wintershall Dea noted that there are currently legal obstacles to transporting CO2 to storage sites outside of Germany. However, the company also stated that German policy makers have come to recognize the potential of CCS.
Wintershall Dea said it is already moving ahead with CCS projects in northern Europe. In Denmark, CO2 will be stored underground for the first time in March as part of the Greensand Project. In addition to Denmark, Wintershall Dea is also developing CCS-related projects in Norway, through its Luna CCS project, where it is also focusing on establishing cross-border CCS value chains, the company said.
To contact the author, please email andreson.n.paul@gmail.com
