Europe Needs 65 CO2 Carriers and 33 Ports by 2050 for CCS Growth, Xodus Study Finds

A new study from energy consultancy Xodus projects that Europe will need a fleet of around 65 dedicated CO2 carriers and a network of 33 ports by 2050 to support large-scale carbon capture and storage. The report, prepared for the Net Zero Technology Centre, forecasts captured CO2 volumes rising from 70 million tonnes per year in 2030 to 320 Mtpa by 2050. Shipping is expected to carry about 79 Mtpa of CO2 by mid-century, more than double the 2030 projection. The study screened roughly 850 European ports and identified up to 60 locations that could serve as gathering, export, or receiving hubs. Around 33 ports are expected to form the core transport network, including 23 export hubs and 10 import and storage hubs. Major industrial regions like Rotterdam, Humberside, and Liverpool Bay are highlighted as likely focal points. The North Sea is identified as the primary carbon storage destination through 2050, with the UK, Dutch, and broader North Sea sectors receiving significant imported CO2. The report estimates that 22 dedicated CO2 carriers will be needed by 2030, increasing to about 65 vessels by 2050, based on an average cargo capacity of 15,000 tonnes per ship. The authors note that the technology for moving captured carbon already exists, proven in the LPG industry and in projects like Northern Lights. The challenge is scaling it quickly. Shipping gives emitters early access to offshore storage years before onshore pipelines can be built, making targeted investment in ports and vessels critical.