Big Money Backs Europe’s Carbon Comeback

Major deals from Eni, Heidelberg, and Climeworks propel Europe’s carbon capture surge

13 Oct 2025

Europe’s carbon capture industry is entering a decisive phase as energy and industrial groups launch large-scale projects backed by international investment. The sector, once seen as experimental, is emerging as a central pillar of Europe’s strategy to reach net zero emissions.

In a major step, Italy’s Eni has joined forces with BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners to develop carbon capture and storage (CCS) sites across the continent. Under the agreement, BlackRock will acquire a 49.99 per cent stake in Eni’s CCS business. The partnership underscores how institutional investors now view carbon management as both commercially viable and strategically important. “This is no longer about testing ideas, it’s about building the backbone of Europe’s decarbonization strategy,” said one industry expert.

Germany’s Heidelberg Materials is also advancing its efforts to curb industrial emissions. The company has introduced evoZero, which it describes as the world’s first net-zero cement produced through carbon capture. The process involves trapping emissions from Heidelberg’s Brevik plant in Norway and storing them beneath the seabed through the Northern Lights and Longship projects. The initiative demonstrates how carbon capture can underpin low-carbon manufacturing in heavy industry.

Meanwhile, Swiss-based Climeworks has signed its largest direct air capture deal to date with France’s Schneider Electric. The 15-year agreement covers the removal of 31,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide and provides long-term financing to expand Climeworks’ infrastructure. The company aims to make engineered carbon removal a reliable component of corporate climate strategies.

Analysts say the sector still faces regulatory and permitting challenges, but optimism is growing as governments strengthen incentives and technology costs fall. The convergence of industrial groups, investors, and policymakers is helping to accelerate deployment across Europe.

As the region pursues its climate goals, the pace of investment in CCS and carbon removal will be critical. Observers expect the coming years to determine whether Europe can secure a leading role in the global clean-tech economy and turn carbon capture from a niche experiment into a cornerstone of industrial decarbonization.