Europe will need a major expansion of carbon dioxide (CO2) transport infrastructure, including a dedicated fleet of around 65 CO2 carriers and 33 ports, to support its carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) ambitions by 2050, according to a new industry report.

The CCUS Enabling Infrastructure Study, published by global energy consultancy Xodus on behalf of the Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC) and supported by EBN, the Port of Rotterdam, Gasunie and Offshore Energies UK (OEUK), outlines the scale of investment required to move captured emissions from industrial sites across Europe to offshore storage locations.

The report forecasts that captured CO2 volumes across Europe will increase sharply from 70 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) in 2030 to 320 MTPA by 2050.

While pipelines are expected to become the dominant transport mode as networks expand, shipping will continue to play a critical role.

Although shipping’s share of the transport market is projected to decline from 48% in 2030 to 24% in 2050, the total volume of CO2 moved by sea is expected to more than double to 79 MTPA over the same period.

Researchers assessed approximately 850 operating ports across Europe and narrowed them to a shortlist of around 200 potential hubs.

Of these, up to 60 ports were identified as strategically positioned to collect captured emissions and facilitate their transfer to offshore geological storage sites by mid-century.

Key locations are expected to include major industrial clusters such as the Port of Rotterdam, Humberside and Liverpool Bay.

According to the study, Europe’s CO2 transport network is likely to evolve into a hybrid system between 2030 and 2050.

Pipelines will dominate high-volume industrial corridors where economies of scale can be achieved, while shipping will provide flexibility, support cross-border transport and enable carbon capture projects in regions where pipeline infrastructure would be less commercially viable.

Cost modelling identifies the North Sea as Europe’s primary carbon storage destination, with the UK, Dutch and broader North Sea sectors expected to receive significant volumes of imported CO2 from other parts of the continent.

To meet projected demand, the study estimates that around 22 CO2 carriers will be required by 2030, increasing to 65 vessels by 2050, based on average cargo capacities of 15,000 tonnes.

These ships would operate through a network of high-capacity ports, including approximately 23 export hubs and 10 receiving terminals linked to offshore storage sites.

For shorter-distance transport between industrial emitters and ports, the report highlights road tankers, rail cars and river barges as proven and scalable solutions, drawing on technologies already widely used in the liquefied petroleum gas sector.

James McAreavey, Global Head of CCUS and Special Projects Lead at Xodus, said: “Most of the technology needed to move captured carbon around Europe already exists. It has been proven over decades in the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) industry and is in CO2 service today through projects such as Northern Lights. The task now is scaling it.”

McAreavey added: “Shipping gives emitters early access to offshore storage years before onshore pipeline networks can be consented and built. If investment in ports and vessels starts now, the North Sea can set the benchmark for how the UK and Europe connect emitters to storage.”

Iain Martin, CCUS Technology Manager at NZTC, said: “This study reinforces the strategic importance of enabling infrastructure in scaling CCUS across Europe. As offshore storage demand grows, the North Sea is well placed to serve as the central hub of a connected, cross-border CO₂ transport and storage system.”

Martin added: “Targeted investment in port infrastructure, shipping capacity and storage development will be essential to creating a resilient and commercially viable network. The priority now is to translate this insight into coordinated action that accelerates deployment and strengthens the UK and wider North Sea region’s role in Europe’s decarbonisation ambitions." -OGN/TradeArabia News Service