Hydrogen and CCUS Market Expected to Move from Pilot Projects to Bankable Deployment in 2026

Taco Van Der Maten predicts that the hydrogen and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) market will shift from pilot projects to bankable deployment in 2026. This transition signals a move toward commercially viable projects that can attract mainstream financing, rather than relying on grants or subsidies alone. The article highlights that the industry is maturing, with developers focusing on project bankability and risk reduction to secure investment. For carbon markets and climate finance, this shift is significant because bankable projects are more likely to deliver real emissions reductions and generate verifiable carbon credits. The move from pilots to deployment also suggests that hydrogen and CCUS technologies are becoming cost-competitive, which could accelerate grid decarbonization and industrial decarbonization efforts. However, the article does not provide specific details on which projects or regions are leading this shift, leaving some uncertainty about the timeline and scale.