Global Benchmark for High-integrity Cost-effective Carbon Removals

Danube Removals aligns with the criteria of the world's most trusted and scientifically robust carbon removals credits globally.

Net Negativity

Fermentation, or brewing, CO₂ is pure biogenic circular CO₂, so capturing and permanently storing it via bioCCS results in climate friendly net-negative emissions. Like most industrial bio-based removals methods, the process traps waste green carbon that would otherwise be vented.

Permanence

Geological storage in certified geological formations, saline aquifers in this case, means the process meets all conventional scientific requirements for durability of ≥1,000 years. The storage system is permitted and regulated under the EU CCS Directive and related national legislation.

Additionality

Project development and operation is viable on the basis of revenues derived from carbon removals credits in the voluntary carbon market, and investments made that are secured by such market revenues. The storage activity is not required under any regulatory regime. No other revenue streams are envisaged, and hence additionality is unequivocal.

Measurement and Verification

Fermentation CO₂ streams are high purity (>99%) while the transport and storage processes are engineered and controlled to exacting standards, making for straightforward and robust quantification, measurement, reporting and verification. The system is regulated under both the EU CCS Directive and the EU CRCF (Carbon Removals Certification Framework) Regulation, assuring maximum levels of trust in the engineering system and in the quality of the resulting carbon removals credits. Under the EU CRCF Regulation project certificates are assessed under the QU.A.L.ITY criteria for Quantification, Additionality, Long-Term Storage and Sustainability.

Sustainability

The sequestered carbon arises from the CO₂ waste streams of Europe's most innovative and efficient agri-food and renewables biorefinery. The ecosystem is a closely regulated, EU located, RED II compliant, low ILUC and highly sustainable value chain. The value chain converts feed-grade maize and barley into plant-based protein and fibre rich human foods, livestock feed ingredients, as well as specialty and beverage bioethanol, advanced Annex IXa (“wastes and residues”) ethanol and biomethane, and RED II compliant conventional ethanol. There is no dedicated cultivation or procurement of biomass for the CCS removals process. All of the sequestered CO2 is pure green CO₂ that is already being generated and vented as fermentation waste from high value sustainable agri-food and renewables activities.

Scalability

Fermentation CCS is technically mature, highly cost-effective when using inhouse onshore geological storage, and scalable. This project has the potential to scale quickly to a million or more tonnes of CO₂ per year in the region, by integration of other existing biogenic sources, while across Europe the immediate potential is 10 million tonnes per year from existing fermentation values chains, rising to 30 million tonnes as Europe’s biomethane strategy evolves.

Sustainable agri-food chains with bioCCS

Co-benefits and Just Transition

This project further enhances one of Europe’s most advanced, innovative and impactful biorefineries. The CO₂ source biorefinery has brought economic and social development and resilience to a rural area of Central Europe. Outward migration has been reversed, many thousands of quality green jobs have been created, while the local farm sector has experienced an innovation and investment renaissance. Integrating carbon removals into the eco-system will strengthen the region's position as a hub of low carbon innovation, investment and development.

Economics

Cost matters when impact and scale matter. Danube Carbon demonstrates the low cost and low complexity benefits of fermentation carbon capture coupled with onshore geological storage and short distance dedicated pipeline transport. Similarly designed projects could be deployed in large numbers across Europe, bringing tens of millions of tonnes of CCS removals capacity. In relation to Europe’s emerging voluntary carbon market, and the CRCF regulation designed to support it, the project brings a large volume of cost-effective quality credits to the markets and this should help the market to rapidly grow and diversify. The success of the market and of the project are inter-dependent.

Legislative basis for Danube Carbon

Danube Carbon rests on a foundation of several key EU legislative initiatives and the sector's future depends on the continued effective application of these initiatives.

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EU Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA) 2024

Classifies CCS as a strategic net-zero technology, eligible for special permitting and funding treatments. Envisages obligation on Member States to assure 50 million tonnes per year CCS storage capacity by 2030

Carbon Removals Certification Framework (CRCF) 2024

Establishes EU certification framework for permanent carbon removals, for uniformity and trust in carbon removals credits, allowing voluntary carbon market to scale. The certification methodology for biogenic CCS-CDR is due in 2025.

EU Industrial Carbon Management Strategy 2024

Establishes targets of 280 million tonnes CCS by 2040 and 450 million tonnes by 2050.

Communication on Sustainable Carbon Cycles 2021

Establishes target of 5 million tonnes per year carbon removals by 2030.

EU Innovation Fund 2020

Provides substantial funding support to CCS and carbon removals projects.

ETS 2013

CCS fully recognised as equivalent to allowances. Carbon removals not recognised before 2030.

CCS Directive 2009

Establishes basis for safe effective CSS that can be trusted by citizens.