Our Policy Director, Tudy Bernier, has recently highlighted in the latest edition of The European Files the crucial role of Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) in building Europe’s CO₂ single market.
In his article, “Capturing and reusing carbon: the key role of CCU in building Europe’s CO₂ single market”, he explains why the EU’s new CO₂ markets and infrastructure package can become a major step forward for climate action supporting investments in carbon capture if it addresses both storage (CCS) and utilisation (CCU).
🔎Key highlights:
🟢 The EU aims for 90% GHG emission reduction by 2040; industrial carbon management (CCU, CCS, CDR, CO₂ transport) is essential.
🟢 CCU enables defossilisation: captured carbon can become synthetic fuels, e-chemicals, construction materials, and more.
🟢 Hard-to-abate sectors (e.g. cement, steel, aviation, shipping) cannot fully electrify, making CCU indispensable.
🟢 According to the EU Commission, by 2040, up to one-third of captured CO₂ could be utilised; by 2050, around 45%.
🟢 CO₂ transport infrastructure must serve both CCS and CCU to unlock synergies, ensure access for SMEs, and create a European CO₂ market.
🟢 CCU drives industrial sovereignty, reduces fossil dependence, and creates fossil-free products and markets.
EU Commissioner for Energy Dan Jørgensen also notes in his article in the same edition that CO₂ utilisation, supported by biogenic CO₂, will play an important role. He further highlights that the Innovation Fund now supports large- and small-scale CCS and CCU projects, underlining that Europe must capture, transport, and utilise CO₂ at scale.
It is therefore obvious that CCU isn’t optional. It is central to a sustainable, circular, and defossilised economy.
Read the full issue here.
