The Dutch gas field Q16 Maas with onshore surface installations is currently under consideration, as part of a Dutch programme (see page 6) for the development of a CO₂ buffer for CO₂ utilisation.

The 2 800 m deep Triassic sandstones of the gas reservoir have an estimated storage capacity of about 1.8 Mt CO₂. This large buffer will offer storage for industrially produced CO₂ in the wintertime and back production in summertime for greenhouse horticulture companies and thus guarantee the security of supply with increasing demand for CO₂, which is commonly used in greenhouses to enhance plant growth.

Underground buffering is the only solution considering the scale of the buffer capacity needed. Such buffer storage could also be necessary for other uses of CO₂ and for collecting emissions before sending them to larger storage sites, including offshore. Site specific data will be used to study the conditions of back production of CO₂ (for use or transfer) and to assess the economic viability of implementing such facilities.