Tie-up targets inland European CO2 shipments

The companies claim that from 2025 they can secure a cost efficient and safe seaborne shipping system for large amounts of captured CO2 from the largest industry emitters in inland Northern Europe. It will be the first safe and complete transport for inland emitters, introducing barges as a very competitive solution since many hard-to-abate industries are located adjacent to rivers. 

The Motorship notes that while significant steel production facilities are located close to the Rhine, other opportunities exist for industries located along the Danube. 

Miranda Maes, CEO, Victrol says: “We are convinced that with this strong partnership both companies will remain frontrunners in carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) logistics. We are creating a full logistic value chain for industries in mainland Europe by using complementary services with barges and seagoing ships. This way, waterborne industrial locations in for instance Switzerland, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands can efficiently be connected to storage facilities”.

Newbuild CO2 barges from Victrol can seamlessly transport CO2 via the European rivers out to ports near sea such as Rotterdam or Antwerp. From here Dan-Unity CO2’s specialized vessels can pick it up and transport large volumes of captured CO2 either for utilisation or for storage.

Dan-Unity CO2 partners with Carbfix, Iceland, where very large amounts of CO2 can be safely injected into Iceland’s volcanic bedrock as of 2026. There, it can be transformed into stone through natural processes within two years.

Steffen Jacobsen, CEO, Dan-Unity CO2 says: “For the fight against climate change this maritime transport will make CCUS available and cost efficient to a much broader scope of industries and geographical locations. Many large inland industrial emitters are currently left behind due to logistical issues. What we now offer becomes especially important once we start realizing that a lot of the heavy industries are located in mainland Europe, for example the Ruhr district in Germany”.

The Victrol CO2-barges can also be used for collecting CO2 from several smaller entities in a region e.g. in Scandinavia or Northern Europe. Then larger Dan-Unity CO2 vessels can take it to Iceland more cost effective than smaller sized vessels.

The companies say that barging the CO2 is a competitive transport mode across borders. It is easy to scale up when volumes increase, and future volumes coverage can be assured in a non-permanent, flexible and efficient way. They can build the number of vessels and barges required using new designs with a lead time of only 27-28 months. Both designs are prepared to sail on green energy.

Victrol is a Belgian shipping owner and logistic service provider, experienced with R&D, construction, commercial and operational management of barges, active in transportation of mineral oil and gas, heavy lift and RoRo. Victrol has performed more than 650 safe and successful LNG operations, of which 500 were ship-to-ship transfers.

Dan-Unity CO2 is the world’s first carbon capture and storage-specific shipping entity, established by Danish shipping companies, Evergas and Navigator Gas. Earlier this year, Dan-Unity CO2 and Aker Carbon Capture signed an agreement to develop flexible CO2 transport solutions, with the aim of establishing a full CCUS value chain.