Pioneering the World’s First CO2-Neutral Cement Production
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Road to Carbon Neutral Cement
ACCSION marks a monumental leap in industrial decarbonisation. In partnership with Air Liquide, Aalborg Portland will capture 1.4 million tonnes of CO2 annually, paving the way for CO2-neutral cement production in Denmark.
Accelerating Decarbonisation:
”ACCSION addresses our unavoidable process emissions by capturing up to 1.4 million tonnes of CO2 annually—paving the way for net-zero cement.
Søren Konstmann LausenGroup Sustainability Project Manager, Aalborg Portland
Pioneering Large-Scale Onshore Carbon Capture & Storage in Denmark
Aalborg Portland is taking a transformative step toward its climate commitments through the ACCSION initiative (Aalborg Portland Carbon Capture & Storage using Infrastructure Onshore in North Jutland). In partnership with global industrial gas leader Air Liquide, the project creates one of Europe’s first fully integrated end-to-end onshore CCS value chains—spanning capture, pipeline transportation, and permanent geological storage.
A cornerstone of Aalborg Portland’s long-term sustainability strategy, ACCSION is co-funded through a historic DKK 16.5 billion 15-year contract with the Danish Energy Agency, alongside a DKK 1.6 billion (EUR 220 million) grant from the EU Innovation Fund. Air Liquide will design, construct, and manage the state-of-the-art capture facility, paving the way for commercially available cement with a lower carbon footprint in Denmark.
Setting a New Benchmark for Europe’s Cement Sector
ACCSION represents a major technological leap for European heavy industry. Designated as Denmark’s first Strategic Net-Zero Project under the EU Net-Zero Industry Act, its pioneering approach to onshore carbon management is a key reason for its recognition and substantial financial backing from both the European Union and the Danish Government.
Key Numbers
1,400,000
tonnes of CO2 captured annually
1250 TJ
TJ of waste heat - capaticity to nearly 20,000 homes annually
649
GWh of energy to run the Capture Facility
The Innovation Behind
01
Dual Cement Production Capture
Capturing CO2 simultaneously from both grey and white cement kilns using advanced cryogenic technology.
02
Reusing Excess Heat
Excess heat recovered during capture is fed into Aalborg’s heating grid, cutting 100,000 tonnes of CO2 annually. This provides clean district heating to nearly 20,000 local households in the municipality.
03
Onshore Storage
Captured CO2 is transported from the capture facility through an onshore pipeline infrastructure to Greenstore, who is responsible for the permanent geological storage.
Cement is essential to modern society, but its production releases natural process CO2. ACCSION enables carbon neutral cement production by deploying full-scale CCS at Aalborg Portland—one of Northern Europe’s largest cement facilities—establishing a complete onshore value chain in Northern Denmark.
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Everything you need to know
What exactly is ACCSION?
ACCSION is a joint project between Aalborg Portland and Air Liquide to build a large-scale carbon capture facility in Aalborg combined with onshore storage. The project aims to capture up to 1.4 million tonnes of CO2 annually from cement production and reuse the excess heat for local district heating.
Why is CCS necessary for Aalborg Portland
Decarbonising the cement industry requires CCS technology, as CO2 is an unavoidable byproduct of production. The majority of our CO2 emissions stem from the raw material chalk, which is an essential part of all cement production. When chalk is heated and processed during the cement production process, naturally bound CO2 is released from the raw material chalk, which can only be abated efficiently through carbon capture.
Is CCS safe?
Yes, CCS is safe. The captured CO2 is stored in underground reservoirs that are thoroughly assessed for long-term stability and safety. The technology has been tested and applied across various industrial contexts and adheres to strict safety standards.
How does CCS fit into Aalborg Portland's sustainability goals?
CCS is a central part of Aalborg Portlands strategy to become carbon neutral on own direct CO2 emissions. In addition to CCS, CO2 reductions will come from transitioning to alternative fuels and developing new product types with a reduced carbon footprint. Read more in Aalborg Portlands 2030 roadmap – Aalborg Portland
What are the challenges of implementing CCS?
CCS requires significant investments in infrastructure, energy, and technology. Therefore, the partners in the ACCSION project have entered into a series of agreements and are working closely with key stakeholders to secure funding—including support from the EU Innovation Fund and the Danish Energy Agency (Energistyrelsen)—to ensure the timeline and execution.
Who are the partners and collaborators in the value chain?
The ACCSION project is developed in close partnership between Aalborg Portland and Air Liquide, combining expertise in cement production and advanced carbon capture technologies. Supported by funding from the EU Innovation Fund and the Danish Energy Agency (Energistyrelsen), we collaborate with key regional energy companies, infrastructure providers, and local stakeholders in North Denmark to establish a secure and efficient value chain for CO2 transport, onshore storage, and district heating integration.
