The Commission’s 2026 proposal to revise the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) introduces a new mechanism: the “Invest in EU Decarbonisation Plans”. From 2031, many industrial installations could have to invest in decarbonisation to retain their full free allocation. This post unpacks the mechanism, explaining what the plan requires, how free allocation would be distributed,Continue reading “Unpacking the new “Invest in EU Decarbonisation Plans” conditionality “
Category Archives: Blog
Where will the ETS Investment Booster’s 400 million allowances come from?
The first phase of the Industrial Decarbonisation Bank, the “ETS Investment Booster”, aims to mobilise around €30 billion to support the deployment and scale-up of industrial decarbonisation projects, backed by 400 million EU ETS allowances between 2028 and 2030. But where will these 400 million allowances actually come from?
Standardising carbon management: Building a seamless CO₂ market and infrastructure across Europe
As CO2 networks expand across national borders, harmonised standards are needed to ensure safety, interoperability, and system integrity; and ultimately to enable large-scale deployment of carbon capture and storage across Europe. Two bodies lead this work at the international and European level: ISO/TC 265 and CEN/TC 474, with which Carbon Management Europe engages as aContinue reading “Standardising carbon management: Building a seamless CO₂ market and infrastructure across Europe”
Why is the EU ETS review setting aside 260 million allowances to buy international credits?
On 17 July 2026, the European Commission issued its proposal for the EU ETS review, setting aside 260 million allowances to buy international credits. But where does that number come from? The European Climate Law allows up to 5% of the EU’s 1990 net GHG emissions to be met with high-quality international credits from 2036,Continue reading “Why is the EU ETS review setting aside 260 million allowances to buy international credits?”
Is CO₂ storage the main bottleneck? A value chain reality check on scaling CCS in Europe
Europe is entering a decisive phase for carbon capture and storage (CCS). Policy momentum is growing, industrial actors are announcing capture projects across multiple sectors, and cross-border transport and storage infrastructure is being planned. However, as deployment accelerates, industry discussions keep circling back to two questions: Is the lack of CO₂ storage capacity the main bottleneck? How much of the challenge lies elsewhereContinue reading “Is CO₂ storage the main bottleneck? A value chain reality check on scaling CCS in Europe”
The latest trends shaping industrial carbon management: Insights from the Projects Network 2026
Last month, Carbon Management Europe organised its Projects Network during the Knowledge Sharing Summit in Norway. The event brought together more than 450 participants to discuss the operational and commercial realities of scaling industrial carbon management across Europe. One message emerged clearly throughout the summit: the main challenges are no longer limited to proving carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies. Increasingly, theContinue reading “The latest trends shaping industrial carbon management: Insights from the Projects Network 2026 “
From barrier to enabler: the role of the London Protocol in advancing CCS across Europe
Drawing on Carbon Management Europe’s (formerly Zero Emissions Platform/ZEP) participation in the latest Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the London Protocol, this article explains how the legal framework for cross-border CO₂ transport and offshore storage has evolved, where it stands today, and how it connects to the upcoming EU framework for CO₂ transport andContinue reading “From barrier to enabler: the role of the London Protocol in advancing CCS across Europe”
Decoding the 2040 climate target proposal for industrial carbon management
The European Commission’s recent proposal for a 90% net GHG emission reduction by 2040 marks a critical step towards EU climate neutrality. Our latest insight decodes the Commission’s 2040 target proposal, analysing the key provisions and highlighting where greater clarity and robust frameworks are essential to accelerate the deployment of carbon management and help Europe reach climate neutrality by 2050.
5 insights from the Projects Network 2025
Last month, we hosted our annual Projects Network event in partnership with the Ravenna CCS Projects, and co-hosted by Eni and Snam. This year’s edition brought together 220 participants from around Europe to Bologna, Italy. Over two days, stakeholders from the industrial carbon management community shared insights on the trends shaping industrial carbon management technologies,Continue reading “5 insights from the Projects Network 2025”
The NZIA Injection Capacity Obligation: What does it mean for European carbon management development?
The NZIA is moving from targets to concrete legal obligations. Particularly, the Injection Capacity Obligation (ICO) mechanism marks a key step in the operationalisation of Article 23. So, what does this ICO mechanism mean for the development of carbon management in Europe?