Insights from the Network: EERA JP CCS Members Share Country Status Updates
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The European landscape for Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) is shifting from ambitious targets to operational reality.
During a recent meeting of the Steering Committee for the EERA Joint Programme on Carbon Capture and Storage (EERA JP CCS), members from across the continent gathered to share a snapshot of the latest developments from their respective regions. These insights reveal a Europe operating at two speeds: rapid operational deployment in the North Sea, and vital legislative and industrial groundwork solidifying in Western, Central, and Southern Europe.
Here are some of the key highlights and trends reported by our members as we head deeper into 2026.
The Operational Frontrunners: The North Sea Region
The most tangible progress continues to stem from the North Sea basin, where decades of offshore expertise are converting into CO₂ storage capacity.
Norway: Following a positive Final Investment Decision (FID) for Phase 2, the Northern Lights project has officially commenced operations, injecting its first CO₂ in late 2025. This sits within the broader context of Longship (the Norwegian Government's full-scale CCS demonstration project), which has now successfully activated the full value chain from industrial capture to offshore storage. The focus is now shifting to other projects working to mature further exploration licenses to meet future demand. Already, 3 CO2 storage explorations wells were drilled in 2025.
United Kingdom: The UK remains a massive driver of North Sea storage development. 2025 saw five Final Investment Decisions, pushing forward major projects like the East Coast Cluster (including Net Zero Teesside) and the HyNet North West Cluster. Backed by a £9.4 billion spending review and the Clean Energy Superpower Mission, the government also confirmed £200 million for "Track 2" clusters (Acorn and Viking) and launched the second NSTA CO₂ Storage Licensing round, mapping up to 2 Gt of capacity.
Denmark: The country is approaching major milestones. Ørsted’s bio-energy carbon capture project is set to begin operations in early 2026, while the Greensand project expects to start storage of CO₂ from biomethane production in Q2. Additionally, Aalborg Portland has secured significant EU funding for cement decarbonization. However, the region is also navigating valuable learning curves regarding market mechanisms, particularly the need to synchronize capture timelines with binding storage contracts.
The Netherlands: The Porthos project is moving steadily toward a start in 2026. Conversely, the follow-up Aramis pipeline project illustrates the hurdles of large-scale infrastructure; due to legal proceedings and a restructuring of the consortium to a state-led initiative, operations are now targeted for the post-2030 horizon.
Policy Breakthroughs and Hubs in Western & Central Europe
While the North Sea is injecting, Central and Western Europe are legislating and organizing massive industrial clusters.
France: France is rapidly advancing its CCS ecosystem with a national target of capturing 8-10 MtCO₂/yr by 2030. Activity is heavily concentrated in four major industrial clusters, including the Dunkirk Industrial Hub and the Hauts-de-France cement and lime cluster. Because France currently lacks operational domestic storage, a major strategic focus remains on cross-border cooperation with Norway and the Netherlands, utilizing shipping and multimodal transport.
Germany: In a major policy shift, Germany passed new legislation enabling CO₂ transport and offshore storage, while offering federal states the option to "opt-in" for onshore storage. Crucially for the research community, Germany has officially joined ECCSEL ERIC, with major industry players like RWE and nine research institutions signing on to share infrastructure and data.
Switzerland: The Climate and Innovation Law recently entered into force, triggering immediate action, including bilateral agreements with Norway and Denmark. Research remains a priority, with the "CiTru" project planning a unique onshore injection test in a saline aquifer.
Czech Republic: The government has approved its Action Plan for CCUS. This has galvanized the "Czech Solution Group," which has expanded to include heavy hitters from the chemical, oil, and gas transport sectors. Pilot studies for domestic storage in saline aquifers are already underway.
The Southern Corridor & Advancements in Utilization
The Mediterranean is moving to secure its own decarbonization pathways, while other regions are driving R&D and utilization strategies.
Italy: The Ravenna Hub is now a reality, having started CO₂ capture in late 2024. To support this, Italy has established a dedicated CCS Committee and published new technical regulations for CO₂ transport. Italy is also heavily involved in cross-border Mediterranean infrastructure projects like the Callisto initiative.
Spain: In Spain, the focus remains strongly rooted in advanced research and development alongside emerging storage plans. Institutions like Instituto Nacional del Carbón - CSIC are leading efforts in capture technologies, including adsorption processes and biomass oxycombustion. Spanish experts are also helping to shape global standards, with CSIC’s Juan Alcalde recently selected as a Lead Author for the upcoming IPCC Methodology Report on CDR and CCUS. On the deployment front, an offshore CO₂ storage initiative (TARRACO2) aiming for an initial capacity of 2 Mt/yr is currently awaiting government permits. Meanwhile, research continues into critical geological challenges, such as understanding induced seismicity for storage within the ERC-PoC project NOSHAKE, supported by robust public communication campaigns and science for policy documents.
Portugal: While in earlier stages compared to the North, Portugal is advancing rapidly on regulatory readiness. The focus is on the PilotSTRATEGY project in the Lusitanian Basin to characterize onshore and offshore storage potential.
Finland: Due to a lack of domestic storage sites, Finland is strategically pivoting toward CCU (Utilization) and Power-to-X (P2X) economies. Significant investment decisions for large-scale capture at Vantaa Energy's waste-to-energy plant are expected by 2027.
The 2026 Outlook: Synchronization is Key
The updates from the EERA JP CCS network highlight a recurring theme for the year ahead: synchronization. Whether it is capture plants seeking storage contracts or pipelines facing permitting delays, the industry is focused on aligning the timelines of capture, transport, and storage.
For the Bigger Picture
These updates represent a snapshot of activities from EERA JP CCS member countries. For a comprehensive, deep-dive analysis of the state of CCS in Europe and globally, we recommend the following authoritative resources:
(https://zenodo.org/records/15261441) – A strategic review of the SET Plan Implementation Working Group 9, outlining specific R&I gaps and targets for 2030.
