Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage in the European Union - 2025 Status Report on Technology Development, Trends, Value Chains and Markets

This report provides a comprehensive assessment of carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) technologies within the European policy, research, and industrial landscape. In line with the European Union’s 2050 climate objectives, CCUS has been designated as a Strategic Net-Zero technology under the 2024 Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA), supported by complementary initiatives such as the Industrial Carbon Management strategy and the Clean Industrial Deal. The report examines the current state of CCUS technology readiness across capture, transport, utilisation, and storage phases, identifying mature solutions in absorption-based capture, pipeline transport, and saline formation storage, while highlighting integration challenges across industrial sectors.
An analysis of patenting and publication trends reveals Europe’s global leadership in high-value CCUS inventions and in specialised areas such as bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) and high-temperature looping, while China remains the top contributor to scientific literature. Investment trends show the United States as the historical leader in both public and private RD&I funding, with the EU maintaining a strong second position and significant growth in Member States such as Germany, France, and Belgium.
The report also explores the emerging CCUS value chain, noting limited industrial-scale operations and a need for dedicated manufacturing capacity in key components such as solvents, compressors, and column vessels. In the context of the NZIA, mapping and strengthening these value chains are critical to achieving the EU’s 2030 CO₂ storage target of 50 million tonnes per year. Overall, Europe’s coordinated policy framework, sustained RD&I investment, and cross-border collaboration are positioning it as the global frontrunner in CCUS technology deployment and industrial decarbonisation.