La CO2 capture and storage Step on the accelerator in Asturias: administrations, research centers, and companies agree that the region has privileged conditions to deploy these solutions and reduce emissions in sectors that are difficult to abate.
At the same time, voices from the industrial ecosystem emphasize that, to make the leap, it is necessary clear rules and aids comparable to those of other countries, while reference and pilot projects that focus on technical, economic and social viability are multiplying.
Asturias accelerates its CO2 capture and storage
The Principality closely monitors the progress in CO2 capture, storage and use due to its industrial weight and the research activity of INCAR-CSIC, in collaboration with companies such as ArcelorMittal and Hunosa, as highlighted by the Deputy Minister of Industry, Juan Carlos Campo.
Despite the difficulties, the regional government emphasizes that Asturias, with a productive fabric electro-intensive and difficult to decarbonize, can play a key role: nearly 40% of its emissions come from processes that are difficult to reduce, where CCUS is complementary to electrification and renewables.
In the La Granda Courses, experts and companies agreed that the region has technology, knowledge and manufacturers, but progress is needed in regulatory development and incentives that allow pilots to be converted into large-scale projects.
Fernando Rubiera (INCAR-CSIC) dismantled the idea that these solutions are not mature: there are technologies available, although with costs still high, a situation comparable to the initial phase of wind and solar power; moreover, free emission rights tend to disappear, which tightens the deadlines.
Paula Fernández-Canteli (IGME-CSIC) recalled that the geological storage Permanent monitoring of depleted oil and gas fields or saline aquifers requires lengthy (up to a decade) studies that are expensive and carry the risk of being discarded; in Asturias, there are areas of interest, but in-depth characterization campaigns are lacking.
The specialist insisted on the importance of explain well to society These technologies, strengthening transparency and technical information to promote their acceptance and responsible deployment.
From Hunosa, MarÃa Lorenzo reviewed the evolution of the pilot plant of La Pereda since 2009 and the steps to adapt the plant to use biomass, a line that opens up new business opportunities supported by years of R&D.
Marcos Cano (ArcelorMittal) explained that they are analyzing multiple technological routes According to the industrial process, although uncertainties persist regarding mass captures, he proposed cluster strategies to share infrastructure and reduce costs, along with a clear communication policy.
CO2 as a raw material: opportunities for the Asturian value chain
For Carlos GarcÃa (FAEN), Asturias has a significant role in converting CO2 into resource for the industry, with companies trained throughout the value chain: design, engineering, civil works, logistics, assembly and maintenance.
Uses cover sectors chemical and energy, such as renewable fuels combining CO2 with green hydrogen, and also applications in agriculture, for example with microalgae to produce biomass.
The manager recalled that some processes will continue to generate CO2 even with clean energy, so it is crucial to capture and valorize these emissions within a broader transition with electrification, renewables and energy efficiency.
Idesa announced that it will deliver one of the larger deposits Manufactured for pre-storage of CO2 before its underground injection: 1.800 m³ capacity, 31 meters long, 9,5 meters in diameter and 408 tons, fully equipped for commissioning.
The company has already participated in Northern Lights (Norway) and is working on the Celsio project near Oslo, designed to capture approximately 350.000 tons of CO2 annually. The supply includes pre-installed equipment for rapid integration, with partners such as Equinor, Shell, and TotalEnergies.
In parallel, modules are being built in Gijón for a project of SLB Capturi in Denmark, with a modular design that seeks to reduce costs and facilitate scalability for different industrial needs.
Direct air capture in extreme climates: the Saudi case
Saudi Arabia has launched a pilot unit of direct air capture (DAC) at KAPSARC (Riyadh), developed with Climeworks, to validate the performance of this technology in hot and dry conditions, different from the cold environments where it already operates.
The facility, inaugurated on July 27, 2025, aims to measure technical and operational performance outside of temperate climates, and is part of a memorandum of understanding signed in 2024 that aligns the pilot with the country's climate neutrality goals.
The Kingdom explores centers CCUS to capture and reuse up to 44 million tons of CO2 annually by 2035, with the integration of renewable energy to power DAC units and strengthen its circular carbon economy strategy.
With a solid scientific basis, local industrial capacity and projects that already look beyond its borders, Asturias is well positioned to advance in the capture, use, and storage of CO2, while awaiting the regulatory framework and public support to accelerate its deployment and attract investment.