Category: CCSA News
Industry, Unions, Academics and Energy Leaders Unite to Call for Greater Government Support for Industrial Decarbonisation
UK-EU ETS Linkage paves the way for cross-border CO2 transport and storage
The CCSA welcomes statements to link the EU and UK ETS as part of the EU-UK Reset Summit and continued regulatory exchanges on new energy technologies such as hydrogen, carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) and biomethane.
The CCSA looks forward to working with the UK Government and EU Commission on rapidly taking steps to remove the regulatory barriers to a European CO2 storage market.
The UK holds a third of Europe’s CO₂ storage capacity, presenting a huge economic export opportunity. Cross-border cooperation on a Europe-wide CO2 storage market can help EU emitters in Europe using offshore CO₂ storage benefit from 28% reduction in transport and storage costs and provide significant economic benefits to the UK.
[London, 19 May] – Today, UK and EU officials met in London for a Summit aimed at establishing a new chapter in relations. Negotiators struck a deal on energy which included an agreement on working towards linkage of EU and UK Emissions Trading Schemes (ETS) and mutual technical and regulatory exchanges on new technologies including CCUS and hydrogen.
The Carbon Capture and Storage Association (CCSA) strongly welcomes these developments. Establishing a link between UK and EU ETS provides greater certainty for industry to decarbonise on both sides of the Channel at a lower cost. It removes barriers to trade and encourages investments in low-carbon technologies such as CCUS, a sector which both the UK and EU support.
A linked carbon market would ensure a level playing field in terms of carbon pricing, reducing the risk of competitive distortions and carbon leakage as well as lowering the overall cost of reaching net zero.
Cross-border cooperation aimed at creating a Europe-wide CO2 storage market has the potential to bring down CO2 transport storage costs by 28% for emitters located in the EU, as well as significantly bringing down emissions, as shown by this report. There are significant returns to be made from exporting the UK’s CO2 storage potential, projected to be a £30bn global export market for the UK by 2050.
While these positive developments in energy cooperation between the EU and the UK are very much welcomed, the CCSA calls for the delivery of a comprehensive and robust Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to cover all sectors and industries including those currently out of scope. This includes refining, glass, and ceramics.
Urgent steps are also needed towards removing the regulatory barriers to a European-wide CO2 storage market. By doing so, this will contribute to the reduction of emissions, achieve better value-for-money from CCUS projects and provide concrete support to the further deployment of CCUS technologies across the UK’s industrial heartlands.
Olivia Powis, CEO, said:
“The outcomes of the EU-UK Summit mark a pivotal moment for Europe’s climate ambition. A linked EU-UK Emissions Trading System alongside a comprehensive Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism would not only enhance the efficiency of carbon pricing but also provide a clear, stable signal to industry, crucial for unlocking long-term investments in CCUS technologies. For sectors that are hard to decarbonise, CCUS will play a critical role in meeting net zero goals. A unified carbon market can reduce fragmentation, lower compliance costs, and help ensure that carbon abatement happens where it’s most cost-effective.”
“In the context of the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, close alignment between the UK and EU on carbon pricing is vital to safeguard competitiveness and minimise trade friction. This is not just about environmental alignment, but also about economic and industrial strategy. A linked system, alongside urgently addressing the regulatory barriers to a European CO2 market, will give the UK and EU a shared platform to lead on international carbon market development, demonstrating climate leadership on the global stage at a time when ambition and cooperation are more important than ever.”
Notes to Editors
Interview requests: To interview Olivia Powis, CEO of the CCSA, please contact pr***@************on.org
For a briefing call on CCUS, please contact Sara Price on 07825235313 / pr***@************on.org
Press Pack: An FAQ, infographics and an animation accompany the press release for use. Various press items can be found under “CCSA Press Pack” on the CCSA website HERE
Read the CCSA’s report into ‘Accelerating a Europe-wide CO2 storage market’ HERE
About the CCSA
CCUS, or Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage, is a key low carbon solution – vital to meeting Europe’s net zero target at least cost. CCUS enables industrial decarbonisation as well as the production of clean power, clean products (such as cement and chemicals) and clean hydrogen – which can also be used to decarbonise industry. In addition, CCUS also enables greenhouse gas removal from the atmosphere through Direct Air Capture with Storage (DACS) or Bioenergy with CCS (BECCS).
The CCSA is the trade association accelerating the commercial deployment of CCUS, with offices in Brussels and London. We work with members, governments and other organisations to ensure CCUS is developed and deployed at the pace and scale necessary to meet net zero goals and deliver sustainable growth across regions and nations.
The CCSA currently has over 120 member companies who are active in exploring and developing different applications of carbon capture and removals, CO2 transportation by pipeline and ship, utilisation, geological storage, and other permanent storage solutions, end-users in the power, industry, waste management, fuels, and hydrogen production sectors, plus supply chain, engineering, construction and management, legal and financial consulting sectors.
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European industry welcomes progress on linking of EU and UK ETS following the EU-UK Reset Summit
UK-EU ETS Linkage paves the way for cross-border CO2 transport and storage
CCSA EU Conference highlights appetite for European industry decarbonisation
CCSA statement: CCUS will drive Welsh decarbonisation, jobs and investment
CCSA statement: net zero by 2050 and CCUS will drive UK growth and prosperity
Olivia Powis, CEO of the CCSA said,
“The 2050 net zero target is firmly rooted in science and based on the impact to the climate of unabated greenhouse gases. Research by the IPCC—the global authority on climate science – shows net zero by mid-century is essential to limit warming to 1.5°C and inaction will result in catastrophic economic, social and environmental costs.
The claim that climate action harms growth is false: studies prove decarbonisation drives prosperity. The CCSA’s own research shows that the Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) sector alone will add £94bn to the UK economy by 2050, create over 50,000 skilled jobs and unlock £26bn in private investment. And recent analysis by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit and the CBI shows the UK’s net zero economy is already growing significantly faster than the economy as a whole—three times faster—demonstrating that clean growth is not just possible, but already underway.
By transitioning to a low-carbon economy, the UK will foster innovation, enhance competitiveness and increase productivity. For critical foundational industries such as cement to build homes and chemicals to make fertilisers for food production, net zero represents an opportunity to compete in the low-carbon products market and keep operations in the UK.
The Government must now build on recent progress by progressing Track-1 expansion, advancing Track-2 selections and supporting all other viable clusters on a similar timeline.
Net zero isn’t a cost—it’s an opportunity. It’s how we secure clean growth, resilient jobs and long-term competitiveness.
Notes to Editor
Interview requests: To interview Olivia Powis, CEO of the CCSA, please contact sa********@************on.org
For a briefing call on CCUS, please contact Sara Price on 07825235313 / sa********@************on.org
Press Pack: An FAQ, infographics and an animation accompany the press release for use. Download the press pack from the CCSA website under “CCSA Press Pack” here.
About the CCSA
CCUS, or Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage, is a key low carbon solution – vital to meeting the UK’s statutory Net Zero target at least cost. CCUS enables industrial decarbonisation as well as the production of clean power, clean products (such as cement and chemicals) and clean hydrogen – which can also be used to decarbonise industry. In addition, CCUS also enables greenhouse gas removal from the atmosphere through Direct Air Capture with Storage (DACS) or Bioenergy with CCS (BECCS).
The CCSA is the trade association accelerating the commercial deployment of CCUS, with offices in the UK and Belgium. We work with members, governments and other organisations to ensure CCUS is developed and deployed at the pace and scale necessary to meet net zero goals and deliver sustainable growth across regions and nations.
The CCSA currently has over 120 member companies who are active in exploring and developing different applications of carbon capture and removals, CO2 transportation by pipeline and ship, utilisation, geological storage, and other permanent storage solutions, end-users in the power, industry, waste management, fuels, and hydrogen production sectors, plus supply chain, engineering, construction and management, legal and financial consulting sectors.
CCSA appoints new EU Director to support the deployment of CCUS industry
CCSA Calls for UK-EU Action on Europe-wide CO₂ Market to Boost Energy and Product Security
CCSA Statement: Carbon capture must be at centre of battle against climate change, says Tony Blair Institute
Today the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) published the Independent Review of Greenhouse Gas Removals (GGRs), chaired by Dr Alan Whitehead CBE. The review considers how GGR options – including large-scale power bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), direct air carbon capture and storage (DACCS), and waste to energy with carbon capture and storage (WECCS) – can support the UK in meeting its net zero targets out to 2050.
Olivia Powis, CEO of the CCSA, said:
“Today?s publication of the Independent Review of Greenhouse Gas Removals marks a pivotal moment for the UK?s net zero transition. GGRs, including BECCS, DACCS, and WECCS, are essential technologies to remove residual emissions from hard-to-abate sectors, support industrial decarbonisation and maintain a reliable, low-carbon energy system.
The Review, led by Dr Alan Whitehead, provides a clear pathway to scale these solutions, and success will depend on finalising a credible GGR business model, enabling investment certainty and ensuring CO2 transport and storage infrastructure is in place.
The UK has a real opportunity to cement its position as a global leader in high-integrity carbon removals, thanks to its large CO2 storage capacity, existing CCUS infrastructure, advanced low-carbon technology expertise and a supportive policy and regulatory environment that can attract private investment and accelerate deployment.
We look forward to working with Government and industry to accelerate GGR deployment, helping the UK capture at least 5?Mtpa of engineered removals by 2030, rising to 23?Mtpa by 2035. This will support economic growth, energy security and help us to achieve our climate goals. With global demand for GGR credits growing – nearly 10?million purchased worldwide – the UK has a clear opportunity to lead in high-integrity carbon removals.?