Carbon Capture Utilisation & Storage (CCUS) In 2026

16th January 2026

Here are the five key areas to watch for in Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) in 2026 with critical indicators of how the sector could evolve this year and shape decarbonisation strategies globally.

1. Scale-Up from Pilot to Gigaton-Scale Projects
1. The CCUS industry is trying to move beyond isolated demonstration projects toward interconnected, gigaton-scale carbon management ecosystems. This transition involves boosting capture and storage capacity dramatically — the industry currently has growth in projects planned up to 2030 but is still far below what’s needed for climate goals.
2. Why it matters: Success here will determine whether CCUS becomes material to global emissions reductions or remains a niche solution.
2. Development of CO₂ Infrastructure & Hub Models
1. Shared transport and storage infrastructure (hub models) is becoming essential to make CCUS cost-effective and viable at scale. Connecting emitters to shared pipelines and permanent geological storage (e.g., saline aquifers or depleted oil/gas fields) can distribute risk and reduce costs.
2. Watch for in 2026 with Major hub announcements (e.g., North Sea, Gulf regions) and Policy frameworks enabling cross-industry CO₂ transport & storage.
3. Technological Innovation & Cost Reduction
1. Several emerging technologies and optimization strategies are gaining momentum.
2. Advanced capture materials & AI-assisted solvent discovery to lower energy use and CAPEX/OPEX.
3. AI and machine learning to optimize operations and performance.
4. Novel capture approaches (e.g., solar-driven processes) are gaining industry attention.
5. Why it matters: Cost reduction and performance gains are critical to wider deployment — and will influence investment flows in 2026.
4. Policy & Incentive Frameworks
1. Government policy — including subsidies, tax credits, carbon pricing and R&D roadmaps — remains a key driver for CCUS deployment. Several national initiatives are underway (e.g., India’s CCUS R&D roadmap to 2070 net-zero goals).
2. To watch in 2026: New or expanded CCUS incentives in major markets (US, Europe, Asia) and Changes in carbon pricing regimes affecting project economics.
5. Industrial Adoption Beyond Fossil Fuels
1. While oil and gas companies still dominate CCUS capacity, hard-to-abate sectors like cement, steel and chemicals are ramping up interest — especially where decarbonisation options are limited or high-cost without CCUS.
2. Implications for 2026: First commercial CCUS retrofits in heavy industry Emerging utilisation pathways (e.g., fuels, chemicals) and Increased integration with hydrogen and low-carbon energy systems.

During 2026, it should become clear whether CCUS can scale meaningfully to support climate targets, how infrastructure development and policy frameworks evolve to reduce costs and unlock new projects, which emerging technologies achieve commercial traction, and whether major industrial emitters and markets adopt CCUS beyond early movers. At the same time, ongoing criticism around cost, climate accountability and effectiveness, particularly concerns that CCUS may prolong fossil fuel use, will continue to influence investor confidence, policy direction and public support in key regions.

#Protea #EmissionsMonitoring #CEMS #FTIR #GasAnalysers #ShippingEmissions #MarineEmissions #CarbonCapture #CCUS

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