As CCUS technologies advance, sparking dialogue and participation becomes crucial to establish new capture installations, utilisation facilities, pipelines, and storage sites. In Denmark, this challenge is addressed through transparent dialogue, monitoring, and regulation. These efforts aim to build trust, address local concerns, and ensure the responsible implementation of CCUS projects. 

Ensuring safety through regulatory frameworks
Efforts to ensure safety in the development of CCUS in Denmark are supported by regulatory frameworks, including the Danish Environmental Protection Act. The act outlines several conditions that need to be approved by multiple state agencies, before any exploration permits are granted. These conditions include an environmental impact assessment, which needs to investigate potential conflicts related to groundwater, drinking water, nature, and the planning of a project. The purpose of this legislation is to safeguard the environment while promoting societal development. 

Building trust through local engagement
While permitting conditions and thorough preliminary geological exploration helps reassure the public about the responsible and safe implementation of storage technologies, the complexity of storing CO₂ underground still raises concerns. This is particularly true within local communities, where too many unknowns and unanswered questions can have a negative impact on the community’s sense of security. This is why it is crucial to take comprehensive measures to address these concerns. 

The Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland and the Danish Energy Agency have actively promoted public participation in storage projects, especially during the exploration and licence processes. Moreover, the Danish Subsurface Act provides that operators must keep neighbours of a storage project well-informed about ongoing or future projects.  

In Denmark, this engagement includes: 

• Regular town hall meetings and public hearings, where specialists and project managers are available for face-to-face discussions. 

• Field visits where locals can meet project teams and see the processes first-hand. 

• Ongoing publication of monitoring data related to the storage sites. 

• Continuous collaboration with municipalities, both on a political and technical level, to ensure transparency and a shared understanding. 

• Educational initiatives aimed at providing knowledge and raising awareness. 

The purpose is not to convince local communities of the rationale behind CO2 storage, but to maintain the entire process as transparent as possible. All storage operators in Denmark are therefore encouraged to engage locally and inform the community about their project. Denmark’s approach to CCUS is founded on transparency, regulation, and local engagement, helping to ensure the responsible and long-term deployment of CCUS.