Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies — often seen as a lifeline for oil, coal and heavy industry in the clean energy transition — continue to expand, yet still fall short of the dramatic breakthroughs frequently promised.
According to the latest Global Status of CCS report by the Global CCS Institute, the number of operational CCS projects worldwide grew by 1.5 times year-on-year, reaching 77 facilities. Capture capacity also increased by 25% — though the report notes that most new installations remain relatively small-scale.
Looking ahead, the industry projects a rapid acceleration: global CO₂ capture capacity could rise five-fold by 2030, reflecting an ambitious 39.5% CAGR.
However, many analysts caution that the sector has a history of optimistic projections that fail to translate into practical deployment — a dynamic reminiscent of the long-promised “hydrogen boom.”
A recent assessment by the World Economic Forum highlights three systemic barriers slowing progress, particularly for CCUS, which focuses not just on storing CO₂ but reusing it:
1. Fragmented regulation — inconsistent rules across jurisdictions and a policy bias toward storage rather than circular CO₂ use.
2. Financing challenges — long development cycles, high upfront costs and immature business models deter investment.
3. Limited cross-sector collaboration — CCUS scale-up requires deep partnerships with major industrial operators, yet technological integration remains difficult.
Despite growing momentum, CCS/CCUS must overcome these hurdles to move from pilot-scale promise to climate-relevant impact. The question is whether progress will finally accelerate — or whether the industry will continue to wait for a breakthrough “just around the corner.”