The joint initiative between CO2 Energie AG, Airfix and South Pole – with contributions from carbon capture pioneers Carbon Impact – is now fully operational.

As Switzerland’s largest Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) project, the facility will permanently remove over 21,800 tonnes of biogenic CO₂ over five years. Having successfully transitioned from development to active execution, this project represents Europe’s first fully integrated, commercial-scale, cross-border BECCS value chain in operation.

CO₂ capture and storage: How the project works

Operating at Switzerland’s largest biomethane plant in Niederwil (owned by Regionalwerke AG Baden and Recycling Energie AG), CO2 Energie AG captures and liquefies biogenic CO₂ emissions directly at their point of origin. Up to 4,300 tonnes of biogenic CO₂ from organic waste are captured annually as a side product of biomethane production.

Once liquefied on site, the CO₂ is loaded into specialised ISOtainers. Airfix coordinates the end-to-end supply chain, ensuring the smooth running of the multimodal logistics required to transport the captured emissions from landlocked Switzerland to offshore storage:

• Multimodal logistics: Managed by the HOYER Group, ISOtainers travel by truck from Niederwil to Basel, transfer to rail bound for Hamburg and continue by truck to the Port of Esbjerg, Denmark.
• Permanent geological storage: From Esbjerg, the CO₂ is shipped offshore to Project Greensand in the Danish North Sea. Operated by INEOS, the CO₂ is permanently injected 1,800 meters beneath the seabed in the Nini West reservoir.

This milestone establishes the Niederwil project as the first commercial initiative in Switzerland to store CO₂ internationally and the first non-Danish project to execute permanent geological storage in Denmark.

Executing the full BECCS value chain

By moving into active operations, this project proves that cross-border carbon removal for small- and medium-sized emitters is a bankable, executable reality:

• Capture and liquefaction at the biogas facility
• Multimodal CO₂ transport via a dedicated logistics agreement
• Permanent offshore geological storage in the Danish North Sea
• Monetisation through long-term offtake agreements

By connecting localised biogenic capture to European maritime storage infrastructure, the project offers a replicable, commercial blueprint for emitters across the continent.

Creating a market for negative emissions

This project demonstrates how private sector commitment, long-term off-take contracts and international cooperation can scale high-integrity carbon removals. The project is backed by a landmark CHF 10 million pre-purchase commitment from the Swiss Climate Cent Foundation through 2030, securing early financial bankability and setting a benchmark for certified carbon removal credits.

As Switzerland works to meet its binding net-zero targets under the Climate and Innovation Act, cross-border carbon export is critical. The operational launch of BECCS Niederwil turns national carbon removal policy into tangible, permanent climate action.