Building Future-Proof CO2 Transport Infrastructure in Europe

The report outlines the necessity of a Europe-wide CO2 transport network, estimating a need for 15,000 to 19,000 km of infrastructure by 2050 to move 250 million tonnes of CO2 annually. It argues that because CO2 networks often function as 'natural monopolies', EU-level regulation is required to prevent monopoly pricing and ensure non-discriminatory third-party access. The document recommends inter-temporal cost allocation mechanisms—similar to those used for hydrogen—to avoid 'first mover disadvantage' where early users bear disproportionate costs for oversized infrastructure. It also addresses 'cross-chain' financial risks and the need for harmonised CO2 purity standards to ensure network interoperability and safety.

• To achieve net zero by 2050, the European Union needs to capture and store 250 million tonnes of CO2 annually, requiring a transport network that the Joint Research Centre estimates may span between 15,000 and 19,000 km.
• CO2 transport and storage pipeline networks are expected to operate as 'natural monopolies', creating a risk of monopoly rents and excessive user tariffs that could slow decarbonisation and increase reliance on public subsidies.
• While negotiated third-party access is currently common for early projects, the report recommends transitioning to a regulated third-party access regime for major shared infrastructure, such as cross-border pipelines and liquefaction terminals, to ensure fair access.
• The high upfront cost of 'future-proofed' infrastructure can lead to a 'first mover disadvantage' where initial users face unexpectedly high tariffs; the report suggests using inter-temporal cost allocation, such as Germany's 'amortisation account' for hydrogen, to spread costs across future customers.
• Investment in CO2 infrastructure is hindered by 'cross-chain' risks, where participants face financial losses due to delays or downtime in other parts of the value chain; the report proposes a state-backed insurance fund to mitigate these risks.
• Current CO2 purity specifications, particularly for shipped liquid CO2 in projects like Northern Lights and Aramis, are very demanding (e.g., a NOx limit of 1.5 ppm), which may increase costs for industrial emitters.

APA

Lockwood, T. (2025). Building Future-Proof CO2 Transport Infrastructure in Europe. Clean Air Task Force. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/13094818/CATF_CO2TransportInfrastructure_Report_Proof_08.07.25.pdf

Chicago

Lockwood, Toby. Building Future-Proof CO2 Transport Infrastructure in Europe. Clean Air Task Force, 2025. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/13094818/CATF_CO2TransportInfrastructure_Report_Proof_08.07.25.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Lockwood |first1=Toby |title=Building Future-Proof CO2 Transport Infrastructure in Europe |publisher=Clean Air Task Force |date=February 2025 |url=https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/13094818/CATF_CO2TransportInfrastructure_Report_Proof_08.07.25.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{lockwood2025building, author = {Lockwood, Toby}, title = {{Building Future-Proof CO2 Transport Infrastructure in Europe}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2025}, month = feb, url = {https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/13094818/CATF_CO2TransportInfrastructure_Report_Proof_08.07.25.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }