ETN Global Addresses CCUS, Hydrogen Deployment as Capacity Gap Grows

Christer Björkqvist, Managing Director of ETN Global, recently presented the role of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), hydrogen, and other zero- or low-carbon fuels in addressing decarbonization and the energy trilemma: sustainability, affordability, and security. The presentation and 21^st Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Workshop were held in Bergen, Norway.

ETN Global also unveiled its CCUS collaborative platform comprised of energy users, technology providers, and research institutes. The working group intends to accelerate CCUS deployment by:

• Collecting information and data to evaluate CCUS solutions, as well as documenting their advantages and challenges
• Establishing guidelines for R&D priorities to advance CCUS deployment
• Exploring cross-industry partnerships for cost-effective implementation

AGM Takeaways

With increasing electricity demands, more variable renewable energies (VRE), and coal phase-outs, dispatchable power is needed for grid stability. Industrial users and utilities are now developing integrated energy strategies, with natural gas-driven thermal generation being coupled with CCS, hydrogen, and other low-carbon fuels to complement VREs, like wind and solar.

"CCUS is a key technology for accelerating global CO₂ emissions reduction, and industry collaboration is crucial for advancing carbon capture efficiently and cost-effectively,” said Jens Walter, Senior Expert for Gas Turbine Technology at BASF, and Chairman of ETN Global’s CCUS Working Group. “A prime example is BASF’s OASE blue technology, a carbon-capture process for post-combustion CO₂ removal in industrial applications, developed in close collaboration with Linde. We can deliver scalable solutions that enhance both sustainability and industrial competitiveness for power plants, refineries, chemical, and other industries.”

Attendees recognized CCS and CCUS as key technologies to decarbonize the power generation, cement, steel, refining, and chemical industries, among other hard-to-abate sectors. Despite high investments in these technologies, many challenges remain in regard to commercial incentives, infrastructure development, and policy clarity. With this in mind, presenters highlighted the importance of scaling up, reaffirming economic competitiveness, and continuing research.

“We have the ambition of becoming a net-zero energy company by 2050, where CCS plays an important role for achieving this ambition,” said Jalal Fahadi, VP of Termal Power Development, Equinor. “Offering CO₂ transport and storage solutions to other industries both supports our net-zero ambitions, but also the decarbonization of these other industries. CCS is therefore a win-win solution for us all.”

In addition to reducing emissions, maintaining research efforts may increase process efficiency and expand CO₂ utilization, transport, and storage opportunities. According to participants, industry CCUS collaboration is required to satisfy the European Union’s Green Deal and accelerate technological developments at lower costs. The increasing global LNG supply, falling natural gas prices, and rising carbon prices are upcoming factors that may impact CCS adoption.

Overall, ETN Global’s AGM 2025 stressed four industry takeaways: securing reliable power supply, coordinating portfolio approaches, unlocking large-scale hydrogen production, and lowering costs through collaboration.

Hydrogen: Capturing CO₂ from gas-based hydrogen production, allows for large-scale hydrogen deployment while electrolyzer capacity increases. Low-carbon hydrogen supplies will not only strengthen Europe’s hydrogen economy but may help decarbonize hard-to-electrify sectors as well.

Power Supply: With the widening gap in dispatchable capacity threatening stable electricity grids in Europe, CCUS-equipped gas-fired power plants or hydrogen-operated gas turbines may provide support. These assets can generate low-carbon, flexible, and dispatchable electricity to ensure supply and reduce emissions.

Coordinated Portfolios: Energy companies, utilities, and heavy industries can integrate their portfolios with low-cost, secure solutions such as CCUS, hydrogen, biofuels, ammonia, and synthetic fuels while supporting renewable energy sources.

Site Visits

Following AGM 2025, attendees visited the Northern Lights CCS project and Technology Centre Mongstad, obtaining a first-hand view of in-operation CCS technologies.

Northern Lights is a world-first commercial CO₂ transport and storage facility, permanently sequestering carbon 2,600 meters below the sea floor. “Northern Lights offers CO₂ transport and storage as a service,” said Benedicte Staalesen, Director for Communication and Political and Public Affairs. “Our mission is to enable the reduction and removal of European and Norwegian industrial emissions and, by such, offering a solution to decarbonize.”

Technology Centre Mongstad is the world’s largest test center for post-combustion CO₂ capture technologies. Here, carbon-capture systems are tested and validated to reduce commercialization risk and accelerate CCS deployment at scale.

Global CCS

CCS is on the rise globally, as governments, industry, and communities grapple with the increasing urgency of addressing climate change. Data from the Global CCS Institute indicates a period of unprecedented growth, with the number and capacity of CCS facilities in the project pipeline at an all-time high. The Institute’s 2023 Global Status of CCS Report noted a 102% increase in CCS facilities in the pipeline compared to 2022: As of April 2024, there are 564 commercial CCS facilities in the project pipeline.