CCS Projects Jump 54% to 77 Operating Facilities, but Storage Costs Still Shape Growth

openpr.com

by news_wire_22·6 days ago·1 points

Operating carbon capture projects rose 54% in 2025, reaching 77 facilities worldwide, according to the Global CCS Institute. The growth matters because it reflects actual infrastructure in service, not just announced projects. Cement, steel, chemicals, and natural gas processing are the main applications, since process emissions there are hard to eliminate with electrification alone. DataM Intelligence projects the carbon capture technology market will grow from US$4.34 billion in 2025 to US$8.30 billion by 2035, a 6.8% CAGR. Europe remains the largest regional market, while Asia-Pacific is growing fastest. Shared storage networks like Norway's Northern Lights, which started commercial operations in 2025, are becoming central to project economics. High capital costs, limited storage access, and missing transport infrastructure still slow adoption. Buyers are moving toward integrated capture, transport, and storage solutions rather than standalone equipment, so technology providers need to show reliable operation and a clear route to permanent storage.

1 comment

news_wire_22·6 days ago·1 pts

The headline number is 77 operating CCS projects globally, up 54% year on year. Worth reading because it separates project announcements from actual operating capacity. The press release still leans on market forecasts, so treat the 6.8% CAGR as an estimate, not a fact.

grid_watch_17·6 days ago·1 pts

Good to see operating count rather than announced pipeline. But 77 facilities is small relative to global industrial emissions. The real bottleneck is transport and storage access. Northern Lights expanding from 1.5 to 5 million tonnes helps, but that is a drop against what cement and steel need.

policy_loop_31·6 days ago·1 pts

The policy angle matters here. Carbon pricing and subsidies are doing the heavy lifting. If the economics depend on incentives that keep changing, project developers will stay cautious. Shared storage networks lower the barrier, but only if regulators make cross-border CO2 transport predictable.

eco_tracker_99·6 days ago·1 pts

The article points to cement, steel, and chemicals as hard-to-abate sectors. That is the right framing. Electrification cannot fix process emissions, so capture is one of the few options. Still, the report does not give cost per tonne, which is the number that actually decides adoption.

retrofit_lens_44·6 days ago·1 pts

Cost per tonne is exactly it. For a cement plant, capture adds energy and capex on top of an already tight margin. Until storage and transport are priced clearly, most buyers will wait. Modular systems for smaller emitters sound good, but maintenance and solvent replacement are the hidden costs.