In the sixth edition of our members CEA and IFPEN’s E-Fuels Focus, the complementary roles of carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) and carbon capture and storage (CCS) in the EU’s industrial carbon management strategy are explored.
While CCS enables to store CO₂ underground, CCU allows to store CO₂ permanently in materials, and supports as well the valorisation of captured CO₂ into synthetic fuels and other products, contributing to a circular carbon economy. Both industries share critical infrastructure, particularly CO₂ capture and transport, and are expected to develop in parallel, driven by regulatory frameworks and national/EU roadmaps. By 2050, Europe has the potential to capture up 450 Mt of CO₂, with an almost even split between CCU and CCS.
The Focus also examines the key trade-offs ahead:
🔵 Balancing CCU and CCS across regions and sectors.
🔵 Societal and territorial acceptance.
🔵 Allocation of critical resources (electricity, biomass, CO₂).
🔵 Accessibility of CO₂ storage sites.
To ensure these solutions are fit for purpose, a multi-criteria approach, including LCA and techno-economic analysis, is essential. Our members CEA and IFPEN’s R&D work contributes across the entire CCU and CCS value chains, from capture to integration.
Discover more in E-Fuels Focus 6 here.
