CCSA strengthens European leadership with appointment of new Board members

• CCSA appoints new Board members with a wealth of European CCUS industry expertise.
• Strengthened leadership will enhance the Association’s European engagement, knowledge sharing and cross-border CCUS offer.
• New appointments position the CCSA to better support members as CO₂ capture, transport and storage markets expand rapidly across Europe.

London, [5 December] – The Carbon Capture and Storage Association (CCSA) today announced the appointment of five new Board members, significantly strengthening the Association’s European expertise as it continues to expand its EEA / UK focus and international engagement.

The new Board members, representing large European CCUS projects, bring extensive experience in business policy, regulation, cross-border CO₂ transport and storage, and the development of CCUS markets across the EU.

Their collective insight will be instrumental in guiding the CCSA’s strategic direction at a time when European climate legislation is driving unprecedented demand for CO₂ transport and storage infrastructure.

This enhanced leadership reflects the CCSA’s commitment to shaping Europe’s evolving CCUS landscape and supporting industries to decarbonise, produce low-carbon products and remain competitive across both the EEA and the UK.

Olivia Powis, CEO of the CCSA, said:

“As CCUS deployment accelerates across both the EEA and the UK, there is an unprecedented opportunity to strengthen collaboration and ensure industry is equipped to meet growing demand for CO₂ transport and storage. Our new Board members bring a wealth of European expertise that will enhance the CCSA’s ability to support members on both sides of the Channel, engage effectively with policymakers, and help position Europe as a global leader in the CCUS market.”

New Board members:

• Phil Hemmens, Special Advisor, Eni [global integrated energy company, with an Italian head office]
• Pieter Tavenier, Director Business Line CCS, N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie [European energy infrastructure company, headquartered in The Netherlands]
• Paolo Testini, Director CCS and Carbon Removal Projects Development, Snam [Italian infrastructure company that operates natural gas transport, storage, and regasification networks]
• Simon Willis, CEO, Heidelberg Materials UK, [supplier of lower carbon heavy building materials to the construction industry, headquartered in Germany]
• Ralph Windeatt*, Group Head of Business Development, ABP [Group of 21 UK ports]

*Re-elected

Mark Sommerfeld, UK Director of the CCSA said:

“The CCSA welcomes GBE’s Strategic Plan, setting out a long-term vision for unlocking the UK’s future energy system. We look forward to working closely with GBE to help deliver a secure, reliable and low-carbon power system. Achieving this will require the full range of clean energy solutions, and CCUS has a vital role to play in providing firm low-carbon power as well as supporting the wider decarbonisation of UK industry. We particularly welcome GB Energy’s focus on strengthening domestic supply chains. The development of CCUS projects presents significant investment opportunities to grow UK content and deliver new regional jobs and economic growth. CCSA looks forward to working with GBE to ensure the investment needed to scale up CCUS is rapidly unlocked and the UK’s capability fully realised.”

To ensure that the UK is able to deliver clean power and energy security, we need to see projects like H2Teesside deployed, however we recognise the reasons for the development not to go ahead given the material change in circumstances. It is encouraging that bp remains committed to other projects in the region, including Net Zero Teesside (NZT) Power and the Northern Endurance Partnership (NEP), and continues to be an active partner in the region.

Following the announcement, CCSA CEO Olivia Powis said: “Projects like H2Teesside are essential for providing low-carbon hydrogen to power industries and help deliver on our climate commitments. It is positive that bp remains committed to other key projects in the region, including Net Zero Teesside (NZT) Power and the Northern Endurance Partnership (NEP), and continues to be an active partner in the region.

As emerging sectors like AI and data-centres grow – along with their increasing demands on the energy system – government must provide clear policies and timely planning decisions to give investors the confidence to advance low-carbon projects. Technologies such as CCUS and hydrogen are vital to providing low-carbon power, as well as delivering clean growth and industrial renewal”

Today, the Chancellor has delivered the Autumn Budget amid ongoing pressure on the UK’s public finances. Yet with the Government reaffirming that CCUS is fundamental to the UK’s low-carbon economy, today’s set of announcements come at a pivotal time for advancing the CCUS sector, accelerating industrial decarbonisation and clean power.

Olivia Powis, CEO of the CCSA, said:

“Today’s Budget and accompanying North Sea Future Plan underscore the vital role of CCUS in the UK’s industrial transition with welcome investment in skills and Grangemouth industrial projects. However, to realise CCUS’s potential, the Government must now act quickly to ensure a managed transition for the North Sea and to protect our industries from further closure – we need urgent action on policy for our refineries and CBAM.  The industry needs a clear route to market for all CCUS clusters and projects to ensure CCUS can drive jobs, supply chain investment, innovation and economic growth for a European-wide CCUS industry.”

In responding to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s update confirming that it intends to launch a new East Coast Cluster (ECC) Teesside selection process in early 2026, Olivia Powis, CEO of the CCSA, said:

“The CCSA welcomes today’s announcement as an important step forward for CCUS – ahead of a pivotal year for the sector. This progress sends a strong signal to industry and investors that the UK is continuing to move from ambition to delivery, building on the commitments that were made at the Spending Review earlier this year. With continued momentum, we can unlock the next wave of projects, accelerate industrial decarbonisation and build a self-sustaining CCUS market that supports growth, energy security and a cleaner future.”

Today The Tony Blair Institute’s released a report, ‘Scaling the Carbon-Removals Economy’, setting out the importance of carbon dioxide removals (CDRs) and the steps needed to scale-up the industry to meet our climate targets.

Following the release of the report CCSA Senior UK Policy Officer, Despoina Tsimprikidou, said:

“The CCSA welcomes the Tony Blair Institute’s report highlighting the critical role of CDRs in achieving our climate targets and protecting our environment for future generations. As the report rightly highlights, to tackle climate change effectively, we must actively remove CO₂ already in the atmosphere, alongside deep emissions cuts.

Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) infrastructure is essential for scaling up CDRs, while safeguarding key industrial sectors, supporting a secure, low-carbon energy system and helping decarbonise sectors such as aviation. Early investment in these technologies will reduce costs over time, making the transition more affordable and sustainable.

With the right policy, regulatory support, and coordinated investment now, the UK can lead globally in CCUS alongside CDRs – transforming our geology into a service industry for permanent CO₂ storage, creating new export opportunities, jobs and long-term economic advantage. The UK is already progressing rapidly on the report’s delivery pillars but momentum needs to be maintained if the UK is to become a global leader in CDR.”

Olivia Powis, CEO of the CCSA, said:

“Today’s publication of the Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan marks an important milestone in the UK’s net zero journey. It reaffirms that CCUS, including GGRs, forms part of the most cost-effective route to net zero and represents a significant economic opportunity – decarbonising industry and power in a way that drives growth.

We particularly welcome the Government’s continued commitment to key CCUS clusters and projects – HyNet, the East Coast Cluster, Acorn, Viking, and the Peak Cluster – which will play a central role in delivering CO₂ emissions reductions through CB6, as well as the need to maintain momentum for further clusters to enable delivery of CB7 and beyond.

Delivering this plan will require close collaboration between Government and industry to unlock private investment, accelerate project deployment, and maintain the UK’s global leadership in low-carbon innovation. The CCSA looks forward to continuing to work with DESNZ and partners across the value chain to turn these ambitions into delivery that drives growth, energy security and lasting climate benefits across the UK.”

CCSA has published a new report “Next Steps for UK CCUS Deployment”.

This report focusses on non-fiscal measures to maximise confidence, drive growth, and ensure timely delivery of a strong CCUS sector in the UK.

It was prepared as the CCSA’s submission to the Government’s 2025 Autumn Budget.

View the report here.

CCSA_AutumnBudget_Submission_Final_15.10.25 – REPORT for Circulation

Today the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) published the Independent Review of Greenhouse Gas Removals (GGRs), chaired by Dr Alan Whitehead CBE. The review considers how GGR options – including large-scale power bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), direct air carbon capture and storage (DACCS), and waste to energy with carbon capture and storage (WECCS) – can support the UK in meeting its net zero targets out to 2050.

Olivia Powis, CEO of the CCSA, said:

“Today’s publication of the Independent Review of Greenhouse Gas Removals marks a pivotal moment for the UK’s net zero transition. GGRs, including BECCS, DACCS, and WECCS, are essential technologies to remove residual emissions from hard-to-abate sectors, support industrial decarbonisation and maintain a reliable, low-carbon energy system.

The Review, led by Dr Alan Whitehead, provides a clear pathway to scale these solutions, and success will depend on finalising a credible GGR business model, enabling investment certainty and ensuring CO₂ transport and storage infrastructure is in place.

The UK has a real opportunity to cement its position as a global leader in high-integrity carbon removals, thanks to its large CO₂ storage capacity, existing CCUS infrastructure, advanced low-carbon technology expertise and a supportive policy and regulatory environment that can attract private investment and accelerate deployment.

We look forward to working with Government and industry to accelerate GGR deployment, helping the UK capture at least 5 Mtpa of engineered removals by 2030, rising to 23 Mtpa by 2035. This will support economic growth, energy security and help us to achieve our climate goals. With global demand for GGR credits growing – nearly 10 million purchased worldwide – the UK has a clear opportunity to lead in high-integrity carbon removals.”