The Carbon Capture and Storage Opportunity for Austria

Austria aims for climate neutrality by 2040, necessitating CCS for 'hard-to-abate' industrial sectors, particularly iron and steel which account for 50% of industrial emissions. While a 2011 ban on geological CO2 storage exists, the government recommends lifting it by mid-2025. A 2024 feasibility study suggests a national CO2 pipeline network could be operational by 2034 with an estimated capital investment of €12–18 billion. Due to limited domestic storage capacity (estimated effective capacity of 118–275 Mt CO2), Austria will likely need to export captured CO2 to other countries.

• Austria's industrial sector emits 20.1 million tons of fossil CO2 per year (Mtpa), with the iron and steel industry being the primary contributor at 50% of these emissions. The Vienna cluster and the Linz area are the most significant point-source emission hubs, accounting for 41% and 30% of such emissions, respectively.
• Domestic geological storage is currently prohibited by a 2011 act, though the federal government has recommended lifting this ban, potentially by mid-2025. Even if lifted, Austria's effective storage capacity is estimated between 118-275 Mt CO2, which would only cover approximately 14 years of current industrial emissions, making CO2 exports necessary.

APA

Clean Air Task Force (n.d.). The Carbon Capture and Storage Opportunity for Austria. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/30155132/ccs-fact-sheet-austria.pdf

Chicago

Clean Air Task Force. The Carbon Capture and Storage Opportunity for Austria. n.d. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/30155132/ccs-fact-sheet-austria.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Clean Air Task Force |title=The Carbon Capture and Storage Opportunity for Austria |url=https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/30155132/ccs-fact-sheet-austria.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cleanairtaskforcendcarbon, author = {{Clean Air Task Force}}, title = {{The Carbon Capture and Storage Opportunity for Austria}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, url = {https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/30155132/ccs-fact-sheet-austria.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }