CO₂ Value Europe, through its Scientific Director Célia Sapart, contributed expertise to the review of a new paper on carbon capture and utilisation (CCU), particularly on definitions, as well as technical and policy aspects.
The paper explores how CCU technologies could support a sustainable industrial transition, while also identifying the systemic challenges that innovators and first movers face.
The analysis notes that CCU can open up new markets, strengthen industrial resilience, and mitigate climate change if backed by strong public sector support, clear demand signals, and innovative financing models.
At the same time, the authors identify three major barriers slowing progress:
🔵 Fragmented and inconsistent policy frameworks across jurisdictions, which create uncertainty and often favour sequestration over utilisation.
🔵High capital requirements, long development timelines, and immature business models leave many CCU projects stuck in “valleys of death” that deter conventional investors.
🔵The need for cross-sectoral collaboration, as scaling CCU depends on partnerships with incumbent industries to provide infrastructure, expertise, and market access.
Because CCU has attracted less attention than more established climate technologies, the paper highlights the hurdles innovators face in testing and scaling first-of-a-kind solutions. It also underscores the importance of coordinated action across policy, finance, and industry to unlock CCU’s full potential.
Read the full paper here.
