The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) is cautioning EU member states against investing heavily in carbon capture and storage (CCS) for gas-fired power plants. Using the UK's Net Zero Teesside project as a case study, the analysis highlights how massive public subsidies, totaling billions of pounds, often shift the financial burden to electricity consumers without guaranteeing significant emissions reductions. Technical hurdles, including inconsistent capture rates and a lack of CO2 transport infrastructure, further complicate the rollout of CCS in the energy sector. Analysts suggest that the high capital costs and long development timelines make CCS a risky bet compared to other decarbonization pathways.
