Industrial Carbon Management (ICM)

Industrial carbon management is designed to complement the energy transition.

In sectors such as cement, lime and steel, a significant share of CO₂ emissions arises from chemical processes rather than energy use. In these cases, carbon management technologies are necessary to achieve deep decarbonisation.

In other contexts, they can reduce emissions where clean electricity is scarce or better prioritised for other parts of the economy, such as transport or heating.

Geological storage of carbon dioxide has been done at an industrial scale on land and offshore for several decades around the world.

Storage sites are selected through extensive geological assessment and operate under strict monitoring and regulatory requirements, designed to ensure long-term safety and permanent storage. The likelihood of significant leakage or re-emission to the atmosphere is considered very low.

When properly designed and regulated, geological storage is considered to pose low risks to the environment and human health. In Europe, a robust legal framework sets clear requirements for environmental protection, monitoring, and long-term liability

In the European Union, carbon pricing mechanisms require emitters to report and pay for their CO₂ emissions. Industrial carbon management provides a pathway to reduce CO₂ emissions, particularly in the industrial and power sectors.

While carbon capture and storage can increase production costs for some materials, EU funding programmes and public support can help reduce costs during early deployment and infrastructure development, delivering long-term climate and societal benefits.

The climate impacts of industrial carbon management are assessed using established and well-designed measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) systems which are regulated and enforced by national public authorities.

These systems track captured, transported, used and stored carbon dioxide with a high degree of accuracy. Clear accounting rules and regulatory oversight ensure transparency and prevent fraud.

The climate impact of carbon utilisation depends on how long the carbon dioxide remains out of the atmosphere.

In some applications, such as synthetic fuels, CO₂ is released relatively quickly. In others, including certain construction materials, CO₂ may be stored for longer periods or permanently.

As a result, CCU’s climate contribution is more complex to quantify than CCS, but it can still play a useful role within a broader industrial carbon management system.

Industrial carbon management generally has a low environmental footprint. Capture facilities are often integrated into existing industrial sites, and transport infrastructure, such as pipelines, is typically installed underground.

Storage sites operate with limited surface disruption and virtually no noise or visual impact. For local communities, industrial carbon management can support industrial transformation, protect jobs and strengthen regional economies.