CCUS remains an irreplaceable pathway for heavy industries to decarbonize and its development is unwavering. Despite the unfavorable economic and political background, CCUS continues to grow both within developed and emerging markets. Policies and partnerships remain the heart of discussions, and it is precisely because CCUS requires global partnerships that policy clarity and connectivity are needed. Policemakers should aim to establish a comprehensive framework that enables the value chain to share risks and benefits, and encourage the industry to focus on the value behind the capital investments.​

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1. CCUS is gaining momentum as expanding infrastructure strengthens investor confidence.

Ben Smith, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: highlights significant growth in UK industrial clusters, which forms a foundational platform that elevates investor confidence. The UK government announced in 2024 funding up to £21.7bn available over 25 years for the development of the first two CCUS clusters, along with contracts signed to start the two clusters. These investments in the industry will support future growth by providing a platform, and boosting investor confidence.

Non-Pipeline-Transport modalities are also rapidly gaining traction to meet rising market demand.

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2. Stronger market incentives and supportive policies are needed to accelerate industrial decarbonization.

Alexandra Fasola, Heidelberg: Carbon captured stacks commercial value via policy value, carbon credits, and low-carbon products. A better symbiosis between market mechanisms and policies. There needs to be more market mechanisms that can enable benefits for heavy industries to decarbonize.

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3. Public subsidy frameworks and Financial de-risking plays a crucial role in getting large CCUS projects off the ground.

Tina Schøn, Danish Energy Agency: demonstrates that public funds remain vital to anchor emerging markets (CCUS Fund-€1.2bn, NECCS Fund-€155m, CCS Fund-€3.75bn), using the Danish sector as an empirical example. By utilizing precise accounting mechanisms rooted in Contract for Difference (CfD) models, governments can manage structural de-risking and resolve infrastructure bottlenecks through public-private cooperation.

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4. The market is rationalizing, and will continue to grow slowly despite inflation and current geopolitical conflicts.

Yvonne Lam, Rystad Energy: The broader CCUS market is entering a rationalization phase and it is not a bubble. Project capacities are inevitably subject to inflationary and geopolitical disruptions. To counter capacity constraints and reduce capital expenditures, new APAC-region EPC players are emerging, shifting industry focus toward optimizing existing assets while CCU and CDR credits gain popularity across Europe and Asia.

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5. Clear government policies are critical to accelerating CCUS investment.

Agime Gerbeti, Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security: highlights Italy's rapid legislative progress following a comprehensive 2023 CCS study, which led to a government delegation bill currently under parliamentary review. This framework establishes preliminary guidelines for CO₂ network access and storage sites, signaling strong state commitment.

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6. Shared CO₂ storage hubs are one of the most practical ways to scale CCUS.

Paolo Testini, Snam: demonstrates the spatial integration of the market through the Ravenna hub, which connects multiple industrial clusters. Ravenna CCS Phase 2 (4 Mtpa) is a flagship project that will help achieve CO₂ storage capacity target of 4 Mtpa by 2030. The immense storage capacity of Ravenna's depleted gas fields successfully attracts commercial demand from northern Italy and neighboring nations.

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7. Careful planning and early risk reduction are key to delivering successful CCUS projects.

Nikolas Rigas, EnEarth: illustrates successful project development through the Mediterranean Prinos project. The project is the 3rd storage permit holder in the EU, and potential injection capacity of around 2.8 Mt CO2/year. By structurally de-risking the asset first, the project secured partial EU funding (Over €1bn), completed extensive certifications, and remains on track for a Final Investment Decision (FID) next year utilizing depleted fields.

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8. Investor confidence in CCUS will grow as stable policies and successful real-world projects prove the technology is commercially viable.

Diana Casey, Global Cement and Concrete Association; Pieter Tavenier, Gasunie; Enrique Cornejo, Offshore Energies UK: highlights a market asymmetry, while geological storage is abundant, aggregate demand remains slow. Financial mechanisms like CfDs provide stability, but overcoming policy inconsistencies and insufficient infrastructure requires substantial private capital.

Cross-border harmonization between the UK and the EU demands deep policy alignment, with linking respective Emissions Trading Systems (ETS) representing the primary regulatory barrier. To secure customers, developers must proactively construct future-proof facilities rather than waiting for formal prior commitments. Finally, the panel notes that while partnerships face operational risks like unplanned downtime and double accounting, pioneering projects are actively resolving these vulnerabilities. Real confidence in the industry comes from seeing actual, real-life projects take off alongside the highly ambitious commitments from major industrial players, proving that CCUS is moving from theory to reality.