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Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) can contribute to the achievement of climate neutrality, especially for hard-to-abate sectors and to remove carbon for any residual emissions. For the successful deployment of CCUS, it is necessary to develop infrastructure for transporting captured CO2 from its sources to suitable storage sites. This study estimates the evolution of the extent and the investment requirements of the transEuropean CO2 transport network from 2025 to 2050. By 2050, the European CO2 pipeline network could reach a considerable length up to 19 000 km and requires investment of between EUR 9.3 billion and EUR 23.1 billion. The extent and the cost of the network can be reduced by developing storage capacities in regions where current capacities are insufficient (e.g. southern and eastern Europe) to avoid transporting CO2 over long distances. To reduce investment costs, the planning and development of storage capacities and CO2 capture projects should be carefully coordinated.
In the early phase of the CO2 transport network development, the EU lacks commercially proven CO2 storage capacity. We should develop a European CO2 storage atlas to provide comprehensive and accurate information on storage potential across the continent. The CO2 transport network has a significant number of cross-border connections, reflecting its international character. To facilitate cross-border transport, CO2 quality standards for transport and storage are essential. International coordination and collaboration will be crucial for the successful, cost-optimised development of the CO2 infrastructure.
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