EU CCUS Forum

The European Commission is pleased to announce the first high-level forum to engage and facilitate discussions on carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS). The forum is designed to involve all relevant stakeholders, representatives of the EU institutions and EU countries to facilitate deployment of CCUS technologies. The launch of the forum will take place in the presence of both Executive Vice president Frans Timmermans and Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson.

The European Green Deal identifies the need for a regulatory framework that fosters the development of innovative technologies and infrastructure such as CCUS. Developing the first commercial applications of these technologies could enable EU industries to become climate and resource frontrunners.

In addition, the Energy System Integration Strategy recognises a role for carbon capture, storage and use in a climate-neutral energy system to support deep decarbonisation, including synthetic fuels. Combined with renewable hydrogen, captured CO₂ can be used to produce synthetic gases, fuels and feedstocks while at the same time decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors.

Closing the gap to climate neutrality by 2050 would require innovative solutions for capturing CO₂ and durably storing it in ecosystems, geological reservoirs or products. Technological solutions such as the combination of bioenergy or direct air captured CO₂ with CCUS have the potential to remove several hundred million tonnes of CO₂ per year.

The first edition of the forum will be held on-line in a virtual format taking into account the uncertainty of travel due to COVID and with the aim to open up for a larger participation.