Pipelines, Infrastructure Development, and Climate Mitigation
The CCUS economy is expanding at pace, with analysts projecting the industry will generate hundreds of billions of euros in revenue by 2050 and support millions of jobs globally. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) holds considerable potential, and industries are already applying capture technologies across a range of sources. The first large-scale CCUS projects are expected to launch in the coming months, with capacities reaching several gigatonnes of CO₂ annually. By 2030, a significant portion of existing carbon capture systems is anticipated to be fully operational. New applications are emerging in cement production, steel manufacturing, power generation, and other heavy industries. Experts predict that by 2050, the majority of carbon capture demand will come from the industrial sector, supported by increasing adoption in other areas as well.
Global companies are investing in CCUS technologies and drawing on their infrastructure expertise to take advantage of recent advancements. Carbon capture systems are developed to remove and store CO₂ emissions from industrial processes, with solutions ranging from large-scale industrial applications to decentralised projects. Depending on specific requirements and emissions sources, many of these systems can be scaled in future to support a decentralised carbon capture and storage network. Various regions around the world are both supplying and adopting these technologies, highlighting the importance of a global perspective. Europe, however, is not yet self-sufficient in the field of CCUS, making international collaboration essential for continued progress.
CCUS Requires Robust Infrastructure
Renewable energy sources are essential for powering CCUS technologies, and in the future, infrastructure facilities will be capable of supporting various forms of carbon utilisation with manageable technical modifications. One of the key challenges in carbon capture lies in the safe transport and storage of CO₂. Pipelines are expected to play a major role in securely transporting captured carbon, with experts noting that this method is cost-effective over distances of up to 2,500 kilometres. While many pipelines can be repurposed or newly constructed for CO₂ transport, necessary technical upgrades such as pipe reinforcement remain critical. This requirement is drawing increased attention to regions with strong potential for infrastructure investment.
At Carbon Capture Europe 2026, companies will showcase their solutions and products supporting the development of a climate-neutral CCUS economy.
