Norne & Port of Aalborg Advance Key CO₂ Storage Hub with EU Grant
Norne and Port of Aalborg Advance Key CO₂ Storage Hub with EU Grant and New Infrastructure
Norne Carbon Storage Hub, a portfolio company of Fidelis New Energy, and the Port of Aalborg have reached a major milestone in developing one of Europe’s most ambitious carbon storage projects.
The partners have now signed definitive agreements to develop a CO₂ reception facility with an initial capacity of 15 million tons per year, backed by a Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Energy grant from the European Union.
Strategic EU Support and Project of Common Interest Designation
The CEF Energy grant will co-finance the development of a new quay at the Port of Aalborg to support Norne’s reception infrastructure. As a Project of Common Interest (PCI), a designation granted by the EU in 2023, Norne benefits from expedited permitting processes, including a streamlined Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for a planned connecting pipeline to nearby CO₂ storage sites.
These developments follow the completion of FEED (Front-End Engineering and Design) studies and extensive environmental assessments, laying the groundwork for rapid progress on construction and operation.
Also read: Norne Awarded License for CO2 Storage Exploration in Denmark’s Thorning Structure
Port Expansion to Support CO₂ Infrastructure
Kristian Thulesen Dahl, CEO of the Port of Aalborg, said, “We are very excited to continue the work we have done with Fidelis and Norne since 2021 to make the Port of Aalborg a key CO2 hub enabling economical and safe storage of CO2 onshore and near shore.”
He added, “In addition, we are excited to be able to provide decarbonisation services to attract new industries to the Port of Aalborg. We therefore see the collaboration with Norne as an important business development differentiator as we continue to expand the Port's role in helping to decarbonise Denmark and the EU."
The upcoming infrastructure buildout includes a 500-metre quay, covering 60,000 square metres, which will host Norne's reception and pipeline facilities. This positions the Port of Aalborg as a strategic hub for onshore and nearshore carbon storage and industrial CO₂ utilization, enhancing Denmark’s carbon capture ecosystem.
