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Elimini and HOFOR Collaboration to Drive CO2 Removal

In a significant move towards tackling climate change, Elimini, a leader in carbon removal technologies, has entered a joint development agreement with HOFOR, the public utility serving Greater Copenhagen. This groundbreaking partnership aims to establish a large-scale Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) facility at the Amagerværket combined heat and power plant in Copenhagen. The joint initiative's primary focus is to explore ways to transform Unit 4 (AMV4) of the power plant into a facility capable of capturing CO2 emissions, producing renewable electricity, and generating verified carbon removal credits (CDRs).

The Significance of the Agreement

This strategic collaboration is a critical step towards enabling Denmark to meet its carbon neutrality goals and fulfill broader climate commitments. By supporting the generation of clean renewable energy and reducing carbon emissions, Elimini and HOFOR are poised to make a substantial impact not only on the local environment but also on the economy through job creation and growth.

The Amagerværket power station is noteworthy; it generates approximately 9,900 terajoules of heat annually, accounting for around 25% of Copenhagen’s district heating. The plant uses biomass, emphasizing sustainability as it also produces 670 GWh of renewable electricity. However, it is also one of Denmark's largest single sources of biogenic CO2 emissions. The partnership aims to capitalize on HOFOR’s established supply chain for certified sustainable wood pellets and wood chips to ensure a robust bioenergy stream.

A Comprehensive Approach to Carbon Capture

As part of this vision, the new BECCS facility will be equipped to remove hundreds of thousands of tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere every year, which aligns with Copenhagen’s ambitious target of becoming climate positive by 2035. The Danish government has underscored the necessity of CO2 capture and storage as essential strategies in combating climate change, further backing this initiative by setting up a CCS subsidy scheme through the Danish Energy Agency. This fund, recently established, allocates USD 4.2 billion toward advancing CO2 capture and storage solutions over a 15-year span.

Leading the Charge in Carbon Mitigation

With Elimini orchestrating the commercialization efforts for the project’s verified carbon removal credits, the collaboration sets a precedent for innovative approaches to climate action. “This ambitious partnership with HOFOR is a breakthrough in the scaling of carbon removals,” remarked Ross McKenzie, Chief of Staff and Senior Vice President at Elimini. “Together, we're developing a first-of-its-kind model that will capture biogenic CO2, directly reducing levels in our atmosphere while facilitating the generation of high-integrity carbon credits.” This initiative is seen as a foundational step for creating sustainable solutions for district heating and mitigating environmental impacts.

HOFOR’s Chief Operating Officer, Gorm Elikofer, echoed similar sentiments, highlighting that this agreement represents a pivotal step toward fulfilling Copenhagen’s target of decarbonizing its district heating systems. By collaborating with Elimini, HOFOR aims to establish both the technical foundation and the commercial viability needed further to advance carbon capture technologies that offer benefits to both citizens and the city’s ecological goals.

Future Perspectives

Elimini will serve as a development partner during this initial stage, leveraging its extensive expertise in BECCS to support HOFOR in project implementation and credit marketing. The next steps involve ongoing project evaluations and possible agreements between the two entities, aiming for the formation of a joint venture in the future.

For more information about carbon capture initiatives at HOFOR, you can visit their official website here. Elimini, which operates under the objective to permanently remove carbon from the atmosphere, is a subsidiary of the UK-based Drax Group, known for its extensive work in decarbonization initiatives spanning multiple decades.

In conclusion, the collaboration between Elimini and HOFOR marks an important progression in environmental strategies by innovatively harnessing bioenergy and carbon capture methodologies to mitigate climate issues, setting a robust example for future sustainability projects in Denmark and beyond.