Central Development
On 28 May, the European Commission published its first progress report on EU CO2 injection capacity under the Net-Zero Industry Act, citing permitted storage sites at Porthos, Greensand, and Prinos and a growing project pipeline, according to the European Commission. In parallel, Members of the European Parliament pressed the Commission with new written questions: Jeannette Baljeu asked how to unlock final investment decisions across the CCUS value chain, as recorded by the European Parliament; another question requested a review of EU ETS benchmarks and a tailored approach for the ceramics industry, per the European Parliament; and Piotr Müller queried the impact of EU climate policy on agriculture and fertiliser competitiveness, the European Parliament shows.
Why It Matters
The Commission highlights near-term milestones—Greensand is expected to inject first CO2 in June 2026 and Prinos in 2026–2027—alongside momentum in permitting and a pipeline of at least seven additional sites offering 19 million tonnes per year of capacity, the European Commission reported. That build-out must keep pace with demand: nearly 100 CO2 capture projects seeking Innovation Fund support would require over 70 million tonnes per year of injection capacity. The same report notes oil and gas operators are obligated to develop new storage and provide balanced access, a potential lever for de-risking transport and storage investment.
Perspective
The Commission frames the outlook as improving—four storage permits were awarded in one year—while parliamentary questions underscore gaps that could delay final investment decisions and raise distributional concerns across sectors. The ceramics benchmark request seeks methodological adjustments rather than wholesale policy change, whereas the agriculture/fertiliser query spotlights competitiveness pressures within the wider climate policy package, per the [European Parliament](https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-10-2026-002095_EN.html; https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-10-2026-002064_EN.html).
What to Watch
Commission replies to MEP questions on CCUS investment conditions, ETS benchmarks, and sector competitiveness.
- Confirmation of first CO2 injections at Greensand in June 2026 and progress toward Prinos start-up in 2026–2027.
- Additional storage permits and clarity on “balanced access” rules for third-party CO2 shippers.
- Whether supply (new storage capacity) closes the gap with capture projects’ >70 Mt/year demand signaled in Innovation Fund applications.
