The GCA position paper “The Development of an Austrian and European CO₂ Market” outlines the steps needed to enable carbon capture, transport, storage, and utilization (CCUS) at industrial scale in Austria and across Europe.
At its core are five key prerequisites:
- Construction of dedicated CO₂ transport pipelines
- Financing of infrastructure and fair cost allocation during market ramp-up
- Transport of CO₂ in the dense phase as the most efficient and practical solution for long-distance transport.
- Legal and regulatory frameworks to ensure fair market conditions
- Integration into a cross-border European CO₂ network
Against the backdrop of current developments at both Austrian and European levels - including the “Industry Strategy Austria 2035”, planned EU legislation on CO₂ markets and infrastructure, and the European Grids Package - the position paper outlines the essential conditions for establishing a functioning CO₂ market and the infrastructure it requires.
The focus lies particularly on financing new pipelines, creating a reliable regulatory framework, and ensuring integration into a future European CO₂ network.
As an Austrian gas transmission system operator, Gas Connect Austria can make a significant contribution to building the transport infrastructure required for a CO₂ market. New CO₂ pipelines could be constructed alongside existing gas transmission lines. Using existing routes would accelerate implementation and create synergies in operation and maintenance. Such infrastructure would enable the connection of Austrian industrial facilities and storage sites, forming the backbone of a functioning CO₂ value chain.
The full position paper (available only in German) with all details and context is available here.