Carbon Capture and Storage in Europe FAQs

The document argues that carbon capture and storage (CCS) is essential for Europe to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, particularly for hard-to-abate industrial sectors like cement and steel. It details the technical processes of capture and geological storage, asserts that leakage risks are extremely low, and outlines current project developments in the North Sea region and across the EU. The text also addresses the economic viability of CCS, noting that while costs vary by industry, the technology is often the lowest-cost path for specific industrial decarbonisation and carbon dioxide removal (CDR).

• Carbon capture and storage is considered essential for Europe to meet its 2050 net-zero goals, especially for industrial sectors like cement, steel, chemicals, and waste incineration that cannot be easily electrified or that release CO2 through inherent chemical processes.
• The cost of CCS varies significantly by source: lower-cost sources like refineries and fertiliser plants may cost less than 90 euro per tonne, while cement and waste-to-energy cost at least 120 euro per tonne, and direct air capture ranges from 350 to 700 euro per tonne.
• Deployment is accelerating in Europe, with around 100 proposed projects. Notable activity includes Norway's North Sea storage and Oslo-based capture projects (expected 2025), the Netherlands' Rotterdam initiative (expected 2026), and the UK's target of 30 million tonnes of captured CO2 by 2030.
• Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies, such as Direct Air Capture and Storage (DACS) and bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, are necessary to balance residual emissions from sectors like aviation and shipping and to achieve the EU's 'net negative' goal after 2050.

APA

Clean Air Task Force (2024). Carbon Capture and Storage in Europe FAQs. https://www.catf.us/resource/carbon-capture-and-storage-in-europe-faqs/

Chicago

Clean Air Task Force. Carbon Capture and Storage in Europe FAQs. 2024. https://www.catf.us/resource/carbon-capture-and-storage-in-europe-faqs/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Clean Air Task Force |title=Carbon Capture and Storage in Europe FAQs |date=5 February 2024 |url=https://www.catf.us/resource/carbon-capture-and-storage-in-europe-faqs/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cleanairtaskforce2024carbon, author = {{Clean Air Task Force}}, title = {{Carbon Capture and Storage in Europe FAQs}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2024}, month = feb, url = {https://www.catf.us/resource/carbon-capture-and-storage-in-europe-faqs/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }