Study 20: The potential of CO₂ capture and utilisation (CCU) for decarbonisation

To achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, CO₂ capture and utilisation solutions will be necessary. This study focuses in particular on the potential for creating CCU hubs – structures bringing together industrial companies that emit and consume CO₂ – in order to improve the cost-effectiveness of the solutions deployed.

The study highlighted several findings: 

• The analysis shows that CCU remains a limited tool for decarbonisation
• The study demonstrated the relevance of CCU hubs in meeting the need to reduce residual CO₂ emissions, even though these solutions also present technical, economic and environmental challenges
• The cartographic analysis has identified a wide variety of CCU hub profiles
• As regards applications, the hubs whose development will be prioritised in the short term will be those focused on ‘mineralisation’; hubs specialising in ‘e-fuels’ and organic synthesis will develop over the longer term.
• As the hub-based approach entails specific risks, it is necessary to identify suitable business models that enable these risks to be managed. 

It consists of three parts: an overview of the technologies available for the CCU, a mapping of emissions from French industrial firms, and a definition of the possible options for the development of these structures.