Global CCS Capacity Set to Pass 100 Mtpa as 113 Commercial Projects Now Operate Worldwide

Global operating carbon capture and storage (CCS) capacity is on track to surpass 100 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) as projects now under construction enter service, according to the Global CCS Institute's Global Status of CCS 2026 report. The report counts 113 operational commercial CCS projects as of July 31, 2026, with a combined capture capacity of 68 Mtpa, up 6% year on year.

Another 59 projects are under construction, representing 56 Mtpa of capture capacity, which the Institute expects to lift operating capacity by 82%. The global project pipeline grew 13% to 832 projects, and more than 400 million tonnes of CO2 have been captured and permanently stored since 1996.

>> In Other News: Toyota Achieves Heavy-Duty Hydrogen Truck Milestones

The Americas Lead in Operating Projects

The Americas remain the deployment leader, with 63 operational projects, 18 under construction, and more than 48 Mtpa of operating capture capacity.

Policy support keeps expanding across the region. Canada extended the eligibility window for its 50% CCUS Investment Tax Credit to 2035 and included enhanced oil recovery, while 17 U.S. states have now enacted a combined 33 CCS laws.

Storage is also taking shape as a commercial service. In the U.S., ExxonMobil has around 9 Mtpa of CO2 under contract for transport and storage, according to the report.

CCS capture facility and metering site at Elk Hills, USA. Image courtesy of California Resources Corporation via the Global CCS Institute.

Europe Builds Shared Carbon Networks

Europe has 15 operational projects and 21 under construction as the region moves from policy development toward implementation. Its capture capacity could reach up to 141 Mtpa if all current projects proceed, up from about 3 Mtpa in operation today.

Connectivity sits at the center of that growth. Around 9,000 kilometers of CO2 pipelines are planned, and 10 cross-border CO2 transport and storage projects have received €240 million in EU funding.

Northern Lights, Norway. Image courtesy of Northern Lights via the Global CCS Institute.

Norway's Northern Lights shows how the shared model works. The project stored its first CO2 in the Aurora reservoir in August 2025 and now offers commercial transport and storage services.

Its Phase 2 expansion is under construction and will raise transport and storage capacity from 1.5 million tonnes to at least 5 million tonnes of CO2 per year.

Private Finance Steps Up

Investors are playing a more visible role. The Port of Rotterdam Authority raised €50 million through the first CCS bond for the Porthos project.

Separately, Eni CCUS Holding, a platform owned by Eni and Global Infrastructure Partners, secured a financing facility of more than £500 million from 13 international lenders in May 2026.

The Next Phase Hinges on Delivery

The global pipeline now totals 522 Mtpa of capture capacity. New projects average about 0.5 Mtpa, and dedicated CO2 transport and storage developments account for 32% of all projects tracked.

Jarad Daniels, CEO of the Global CCS Institute, said the sector's next phase "is about delivery." He pointed to durable policy, clear regulation, and bankable commercial models as the keys to turning project momentum into operating infrastructure.

About the Global CCS Institute

The Global CCS Institute is an international think tank whose mission is to accelerate the deployment of carbon capture and storage. It publishes the annual Global Status of CCS report, maintains the CO2RE facilities database, and works with governments, industry, and investors across the CCS value chain.

Source: Global CCS Institute, Global Status of CCS 2026