CCS Europe Newsletter 

HEADLINE NEWS

The 2025 Work Programme was announced last month, and CCS is… kind of there? We got the Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act (nice) and a stronger Climate Law (also nice), but no CO₂ transport framework? No Competitiveness Fund? That’s like getting a fancy new phone without the charger. If Europe wants to decarbonise industry, it needs to plug CCS in.

Commission shows its hand with the Clean Industrial Deal, but it’s hardly a royal flush.  Sure, a voluntary carbon label is cute, but it won’t build pipelines. If the EU is serious about capturing 280 million tonnes of CO₂ by 2040, CCS needs a starring role in policies like the Steel and Metals Action Plan. Read our reaction.

Connecting Europe Facility. The €1.25B energy funding round is here, and CCS got €250M. Of that, Greece’s Prinos site secured €120M, which is great - but if we want CCS to scale, to the levels of ambition spelled out in the ICM Strategy,the EU will need scores more Prinos sites across the bloc.

Net-zero without CCS? In its latest resolution on energy intensive industries, the European Parliament seeks a boost in green funding and procurement, but CCS was given scant regard. Whatever happened to the ‘technology neutral’ approach?

OUR ACTIVITIES

ICM Strategy turns one🎂 Last month, we wished a happy first birthday to the Industrial Carbon Management Strategy. At the time of its arrival, we had such high hopes for the Commission’s latest brainchild: dozens of new projects, billions in funding, a clear roadmap to reach the storage target of 280 million tonnes of CO2 per year. Instead, we got… one Final Investment Decision. To mark the occasion, we sent a letter to Ursula von der Leyen with our wish list: clear leadership, a CCS Action Plan, and actual funding. Read it here.

Chris speaks CCS in Norway. Our Director was in Norway last month, rallying more policymakers to the CCS cause. He gave a keynote at the Bellona CCS Conference, reminding everyone that industrial decarbonisation without CCS is like a boat without a paddle. Big thanks to Bellona, our esteemed member, for bringing the right people together.

Speaking of our members… Chris sat down with Paolo Testini, Director of CCS and Carbon Removal Development, at Snam, for a deep dive on the Ravenna CCS project in the Adriatic Sea. Watch the full interview.

Get CCS to the Greek(s). We met with Panos Massaras, Energy Attaché at the Greek Permanent Representation to the EU, to deliver a healthy dose of CCS. Mr. Massaras highlighted that Greece believes in CCS and is interested in pursuing discussions around it.

CCS DEVELOPMENTS FROM AROUND THE BLOC

Finland bags CCS funding 💰 The European Commission pumped €2.3 billion into Finland’s industrial decarbonisation plans, and guess what? CCS is on the VIP list among tax incentives, funding for innovation, and a focus on hard-to-abate sectors. Check out the Commission’s press release.

€48M for carbon capture in Ireland🏆 Irish agribusiness Clonbio secured €48.4 million from the EU for a new CCS project. Ireland may be known for its rolling green hills, but now it’s making moves to keep the air just as clean. Time to see who follows suit! Read more.

Swedish startup raises €5.1M 🔥 Sweden just notched another win, with a CDR startup raising €5.1M to scale up Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS). Translation? They’re literally making emissions disappear. Full story here.

LOOKING AHEAD: MARCH 👀