The challenge to develop multiple regional CCUS value chains to decarbonise industry and deliver negative emissions span numerous technologies and actors in industry, transport, energy, and CO₂ storage. CCUS ZEN (Zero Emission Network to facilitate CCUS uptake in industry) address coordination challenges across value chains and actors and will provide a framework for the roll-out of CCUS in hubs and clusters throughout Europe.

To reach the Paris Agreement goals, a total of 14 per cent of emission reductions within 2060 must come from CCS technologies, according to the IEA. The partners in CCUS ZEN obtain broad competence and knowledge across CCUS value chains and CCUS infrastructure, such as ports, pipelines, shipping, CO₂ transport, CO₂ storage, and energy. Together, the partners will elaborate detailed plans for the integration of CCUS in hubs and clusters.

CCUS ZEN will explore the potential for CCUS value chain deployment in two regions with lower maturity level for CCUS compared to the current development in the North Sea region. The Baltic Sea region and the Mediterranean Sea region. The mission of CCUS ZEN is to contribute to the acceleration of CCUS deployment by enabling mutual, continuous learning between different stakeholder types and between European regions. ECCSEL will contribute with our network to the building of a coherent ecosystem of CCUS actors in Europe.

The CCUS ZEN project kick-off in Paris 28-29 September gathered many of the partners in the network. Photo: Technip Energies

CCUS ZEN will last for 30 months. SINTEF is the project coordinator and collaborates with 13 partners. In addition, the project consists of around 40 networking partners, where ECCSEL ERIC is one of these. CCUS ZEN is a Coordination and Support Action funded under Horizon Europe, Cluster 5 – Sustainable, secure and competitive energy supply.