The EU makes good progress towards its 2030 CO₂ injection target

Target remains within reach

In 2024, the EU set a target of 50 million tonnes of annual injection capacity in EU geological CO₂ storage sites by 2030 to support carbon capture and storage projects, cut industrial emissions and increase the availability of CO₂ storage sites in Europe. Today's report shows that there has been significant progress in developing storage sites since then, and the 2030 target is within reach if projects are able to deploy quickly enough.

Three storage sites at Porthos, Greensand and Prinos already have a permit in the EU. The Greensand site, in the Danish North Sea, will inject its first CO₂ as early as next month. The Prinos site, located in the Aegean Sea, should become operational in 2026-2027. And the Porthos site, located near Rotterdam, should enter operation next year.

These sites are kickstarting the CO₂ storage market and demonstrate the rapid growth of carbon capture and storage in the EU. In the space of one year, Member States have awarded four new permits (including the K14-FAFC storage site, recently permitted in the Netherlands) following the Commission's review. By contrast, only one permit was issued in the EU between the adoption of the CCS Directive in 2009 and the setting of the 2030 target in 2024. At least another seven sites are expected to come online in the next years with a total injection capacity of 19 million tonnes of CO₂ per year.

Strong demand from industry

EU Member States report that a lot of industrial plants will rely on CO₂ storage sites in the coming years. Innovation Fund projects alone are expected to capture more than 25 million tonnes of CO₂ per year for permanent storage. Almost 100 CO₂ capture projects applied for the Innovation Fund in the period 2020-2025 and would require more than 70 million tonnes in annual CO₂ injection capacity. The contribution of the 44 obligated entities is crucial to meet industry demand and reinforce the EU leadership in CO₂ capture technologies.

More work required from oil and gas companies

Improved public reporting by Member States and the 44 obligated companies will provide a better market picture for investors. Oil and gas companies must also develop new storage sites to meet their contribution and provide balanced access to carbon capture and storage across the EU.

The development of an EU market for CO₂ storage will be essential to support the decarbonisation of hard-to-abate industries and deliver the objectives of the European Commission's Clean Industrial Deal. By accelerating investment in strategic infrastructure, strengthening cross-border cooperation and creating predictable conditions for industry, the EU is laying the foundations for a competitive EU carbon management market that can help reduce emissions while supporting industrial resilience and clean growth.

Wopke Hoekstra, Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth

"The CO₂ storage industry is growing rapidly in the EU. More than 19 million tonnes in annual injection capacity will be available to our heavy industry in the next years. This new infrastructure will support investments in carbon capture across all Member States."

Read more

• Report on the EU's progress towards reaching the Union-wide target for CO₂ injection capacity
• About Industrial carbon management