Carbon capture solutions are at the heart of the debate on the energy transition and the fight against climate change. The pursuit of climate neutrality requires measures to reduce and offset greenhouse gas emissions, with carbon dioxide being the main culprit. Unlike other major European economies, Spain faces significant regulatory obstacles that hinder the development and implementation of these technologies.
The lack of a specific regulatory framework in Spain poses a competitive disadvantage for sectors that are difficult to decarbonize, while also limiting access to European funds aimed at promoting innovations in carbon capture, utilization, and storage. This is according to a report prepared by the Naturgy Foundation and led by Mariano Marzo, emeritus professor at the University of Barcelona.
The role of carbon capture in the energy transition
Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies are essential for meeting international emissions reduction commitments. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) , achieving climate goals requires capturing between 7.000 and 14.000 billion tons of CO2 annually until 2050. These tools are particularly relevant in industries with emissions that are difficult to reduce, such as cement, steel, and chemical production. To learn more about the progress and challenges of these technologies, you can consult this analysis of advances and challenges in CO2 capture.
The Naturgy Foundation report indicates that the mass adoption of CCUS technologies is key not only for industrial decarbonization , but also to boosting new value chains, such as the production of green hydrogen and low carbon footprint fuels.
Innovation and international collaboration are emerging as essential conditions for the deployment of these solutions. The report warns that urgent action is needed given current CO2 levels in the atmosphere and urges governments to support those already taking action.
Pioneering projects and initiatives in CO2 capture and use
Notable initiatives include La Robla Green in León, a complex that combines a biomass-fueled cogeneration plant with a CO2 capture facility designed to process 400.000 tons of biogenic CO2 annually. This CO2 is used to synthesize green e-methanol, a zero-carbon fuel with applications in multiple industrial sectors, as well as for export via sustainable rail networks.
The project also integrates hydrogen generation through electrolysis powered by renewable energy, and direct collaboration with farmers to use corn waste as a raw material, promoting sustainable and efficient agricultural management. Both the industrial experience and the technical involvement of specialized consortia (including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Siemens) position La Robla Green as a European benchmark in the integration of CO2 capture, clean energy, and the circular economy.
Similar solutions in Europe, such as Heirloom plants in the United States, demonstrate the viability of systems capable of directly extracting atmospheric CO2 and safely storing it underground. Other approaches focus on biotechnology, using bacteria like Bacillus megaterium to efficiently transform CO2 into limestone, with potential applications in the construction industry and in reducing the environmental footprint of traditional materials.
European regulations and certification standards
In response to the proliferation of carbon capture projects, Europe has taken steps forward by approving regulations such as Regulation (EU) 2024/3012 , which introduces a common framework for the certification of CO2 removals and expands the range of recognized ecosystems and techniques. This regulation covers geological, marine, agricultural, and long-life product captures , boosting investment and innovation across the entire carbon value chain. To better understand how these standards support the transition, you can visit [link to relevant documentation].
Certification standards aim to guarantee the additionality and permanence of carbon sequestration by establishing precise criteria for measuring, verifying, and registering carbon credits. Preventing "greenwashing" and providing legal certainty for both developers and credit buyers are priority objectives of this regulatory framework, which is already inspiring pioneering initiatives in Spanish regions such as Andalusia.
Towards a low-carbon economy: synthetic fuels and emerging technologies
Synthetic fuels ( e-fuels), obtained from green hydrogen and captured CO2, represent another way to close the carbon cycle in sectors such as transportation and aviation. Pilot projects like Petronor's in Bilbao reinforce the role of captured CO2 as a strategic raw material, anticipating a transition to net-zero emission fuels compatible with the current infrastructure. To learn more about these initiatives, see the main trends in reducing carbon emissions.
The industry is also making progress in developing bioreactors and genetic engineering techniques that allow for efficient and clean carbon capture, utilizing industrial waste and maximizing the durability of the solutions. Despite the technical challenges, the integration of renewable energies and the circular economy bode well for the future of these emerging technologies.
Sustainability and social benefits must be priorities in all harvesting initiatives, ensuring that projects generate added value for communities and contribute to ecosystem improvement. Private funding and institutional support converge to provide strength and realism to the transition to a decarbonized economy.
