CCSA appoints new EU Director to support the deployment of CCUS industry

• Thierry Grauwels has been appointed as CCSA EU Director, starting in May 2025, following a 25+ years in the energy industry, across the value chain, covering gas, electricity, hydrogen and CO₂.
• Thierry’s appointment strengthens the CCSA’s mission to support CCUS development across Europe.
• In the past, Thierry has lead capex intensive projects, business development and financing, including CO₂ capture. He has a previous experience in Brussels.

[Brussels, 9 May] – Thierry Grauwels has been appointed as EU Director of the Carbon Capture and Storage Association (CCSA) and started in May.

Thierry brings 25+ years of experience in the energy market transformation and will lead the CCSA’s activities in Brussels related to the commercial deployment of large-scale integrated CCUS projects in Europe.

During his career, Thierry worked in the development of large, capital-intensive projects in gas infrastructure, power plants, and carbon capture projects. Additionally, Thierry has been involved in commercial, merger and acquisition, financing, and advocacy activities across the energy value chain, including power, hydrogen, gas and LNG.

Thierry joins at a critical time for the CCUS industry. The European Commission’s Clean Industrial Deal promises significant support to the development and deployment of CCUS technologies in the EU. This will allow for the creation of tens of thousands of new highly skilled jobs and protect thousands of existing jobs in critical industries like cement, chemicals, fertiliser and manufacturing.

The EU aims to capture 450 million tonnes of CO₂ annually by 2050 to achieve its net zero targets. To do so, it is crucial that CCUS technologies are deployed at scale across the continent as soon as possible. CCUS has the double benefits of allowing decarbonisation without deindustrialisation.

The CCSA has been working with European Institutions to secure the EU’s position as a world leader in CCUS and low carbon hydrogen production. The appointment of Thierry as EU Director provides the trade association with additional expertise and experience to drive forward CCUS to decarbonise EU industry, deliver energy security and create jobs in a new low-carbon economy.

We are also delighted to announce that Stefano Miriello will be appointed EU Deputy Director. In the previous months, Stefano has contributed to the growth of the CCSA’s EU office in his function as Head of EU External Affairs. Thierry and Stefano will work together to advance CCUS in Europe.

Thierry Grauwels said:

“I’m excited to join the CCSA team and help drive the deployment of such a crucial technology like CCUS to ensure energy security while decarbonising the economy.”

“With significant expertise related to the transformation of energy markets and the adaptation of corporate structures, I am keen to engage with industry leaders and policymakers to enable the CCUS market to take off in Europe.”

Olivia Powis, CEO of the CCSA said:

“We are thrilled to welcome Thierry to our team. His wealth of experience in the energy sector will bolster our team of experts, all of whom are committed to tackling climate change and seeing CCUS developed at pace across Europe to decarbonise – not deindustrialise – our critical industries and reduce emissions to reach climate neutrality.”

“With the EU CCUS industry at an exciting point in its development, Thierry’s expertise will have a significant role in advancing the CCSA’s mission and supporting our Members in driving this essential net zero transition technology.”

Notes to Editors

Thierry Grauwels Biography 

Since joining Shell in 1998, Thierry has held several business and market development positions in the European energy market. He focused on the newly liberalised energy markets, negotiated long term gas and LNG supply agreements and developed several positions in LNG regasification and power projects with hydrogen – Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). He led Shell’s advocacy efforts to promote the role of gas in Europe. He unbundled the gas distribution company of Athens according to the EU requirements and framed the ownership restructuring.

Thierry joined Fluxys, Belgian gas TSO and became the CFO of DESFA after the successful partial privatisation of the company by SNAM, Enagas and Fluxys in 2018.

Before being appointed as EU director of the CCS association in Brussels, he headed the Benelux business unit of Hinicio. A boutique consultancy firm specialised in Hydrogen and its derivatives.

About the CCSA

CCUS, or Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage, is a key low carbon solution – vital to meeting Europe’s Net Zero target at least cost. CCUS enables industrial decarbonisation as well as the production of clean power, clean products (such as cement and chemicals) and clean hydrogen – which can also be used to decarbonise industry. In addition, CCUS also enables greenhouse gas removal from the atmosphere through Direct Air Capture with Storage (DACS) or Bioenergy with CCS (BECCS).

The CCSA is the trade association accelerating the commercial deployment of CCUS, with offices in London and Brussels. We work with members, governments and other organisations to ensure CCUS is developed and deployed at the pace and scale necessary to meet net zero goals and deliver sustainable growth across regions and nations.

The CCSA currently has over 115+ member companies who are active in exploring and developing different applications of carbon capture and removals, CO₂ transportation by pipeline and ship, utilisation, geological storage, and other permanent storage solutions, end-users in the power, industry, waste management, fuels, and hydrogen production sectors, plus supply chain, engineering, construction and management, legal and financial consulting sectors.

For media enquiries please email press@ccsassociation.org