Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reaching climate neutrality by 2050 remains one of the EU’s greatest challenges. Carbon Dioxide Removals (CDR) will be essential to achieving this goal. With a revision of the EU Climate Law expected soon, the role of industrial carbon removals will once again the centre stage in policy discussions.
Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) is one of the key tools in the EU’s CDR portfolio. When integrated into existing bioenergy plants, BECCS allows for the capture of biogenic CO2, effectively removing carbon from the atmosphere while continuing to deliver renewable energy and heat. This results in net-negative emissions, making BECCS one of the few mature and scalable solutions for delivering permanent and verifiable removals.
In the impact assessment report “Europe’s 2040 climate target and path to climate neutrality by 2050” the European Commission outlined the need to achieve 80 Mt CO₂ of industrial carbon removal by 2040 to meet its climate objectives.
A recent study by BEST (Bioenergy and Sustainable Technologies GmbH) suggests that with a relatively modest deployment effort, the EU could be well on its way to achieving this objective by upgrading existing biomass facilities. If 38% of existing biomass installations were equipped with BECCS, the EU could already meet the 2040 target. Looking further ahead, an implementation rate of 50% would deliver approximately 105 Mt CO₂ of removals per year. This demonstrates that the goal is technically within reach but achieving it requires a few vital conditions to be met at both at EU and national levels.
BECCS potential depending on the implementation rate with a capture rate of 95%
The Renewable Energy Directive (EU/2023/2413) already lays the groundwork for the sustainable deployment of BECCS, with strengthened criteria for biomass sustainability and emissions performance (Article 29). BECCS can be retrofitted to many existing plants, accelerating deployment and supporting cost-effectiveness. As deployment scales up and infrastructure becomes more coordinated, costs are expected to decrease further, especially in industrial clusters where synergies can be maximised.
To provide long-term certainty for investors, the EU must prioritise consistent and predictable implementation of existing rules and avoid regulatory uncertainty. While BECCS technologies are already mature, barriers such as fragmented access funding, complex administrative procedures, and unclear eligibility criteria continue to hinder large-scale deployment. Simplifying funding schemes and developing targeted instruments to de-risk investment will be critical to accelerating progress.
The development of a harmonised EU certification framework for carbon removals also sends a strong signal. While refinements are still possible, the Commission’s open and inclusive approach has laid a credible foundation, and early action is now essential.
Building a robust CO₂ transport and storage infrastructure is equally crucial Without reliable infrastructure for transporting and permanently storing captured CO₂, BECCS projects cannot scale. Prioritising shared transport and storage hubs within industrial clusters will facilitate early deployment and reduce overall project costs.
Member States should include BECCS deployment in their National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs), to help secure financing and build public trust. Public engagement and education on BECCS will be important to address concerns and improve understanding on how BECCS works and its role in delivering net-zero emissions.
The EU should establish distinct targets for permanent carbon removals, separated from gross emission reductions. This approach aligns with the “like-for-like” principle, ensuring fossil CO₂ emissions are balanced only with durable removals, thereby preserving the environmental integrity of corporate climate claims.
As one of the few technologies capable of achieving immediate and durable carbon removals using existing assets, BECCS offers a pragmatic and ready pathway forward. Deploying BECCS can make a significant contribution to Europe’s 2040 carbon removal targets, without requiring unrealistic scaling or entirely new infrastructure. With roughly one-third of current biomass capacity equipped for BECCS, the EU could meet its goals.
By supporting a technology that is both technically proven and operationally scalable, the EU can reinforce its leadership in climate innovation while addressing the growing economic and environmental costs of inaction.
Ennio Prizzi is a Senior Policy Officer at Bioenergy Europe.
