Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a chain of technologies for reducing CO₂ emissions from industrial sources and power generation. It involves capturing CO₂ before it enters the atmosphere and storing it deep underground in suitable geological formations. These storage sites consist of a reservoir rock where CO2 is injected in the pores, and a sealing rock that securely traps CO2. Careful site selection, operation and monitoring are crucial to ensure safety and effectiveness.
Find out more in the CO2GeoNet brochure in English, Dutch or French.
As the leading Belgian research institute on CO2 geological storage and hosting the largest geological database and collections of the country, we provide national expertise on several aspects of CO2 storage:
The GSB is member of the leading European expert networks on CO2 geological storage to provide state-of-the-art expertise.
In 2024, the European Commission adopted the Net Zero Industry Act or NZIA, a set of climate-related regulations related to the Green Deal Industrial Plan, for ensuring emission reductions while retaining EU industry’s competitiveness. The NZIA targets multiple sectors and technologies, but specific regulations are put in place for the large-scale deployment of CCS (CO2 capture and geological storage). An ambitious target of 50 million tonnes CO2 injection capacity by 2030 is set.
Trough collaboration within the National Climate Commission CCUS Working Group we contribute to the mandatory yearly NZIA reporting on CCS infrastructure, storage capacity and geological data availability.
More on the Net Zero Industry Act
Find out more about the 2030 storage target and the member state’s reporting
GSEU – Geological Service for Europe WP3 Geo-energy resources
LEILAC2 – Low emissions intensity lime and cement 2: demonstration scale
ENOS – Enabling Onshore Storage in Europe
SCCS – Techno-economic evaluation of CO2-EOR in the North Sea
CO2StoP – CO2 Storage Potential in Europe
CGS Europe – Pan-European coordination action on CO2 Geological Storage
ACCESS – Assistance in Clean Coal and Environmentally sound Storage Solutions
PSS-CCS I, II & BeNe – Policy Support System for Carbon Capture and Storage
GESTCO – Assessing European Potential for Geological Storage of CO2 from Fossil Fuel Combustion
Roefs, P., Moretti, M., Welkenhuysen, K., Piessens, K. & Compernolle, T., 2019. CO2-enhanced oil recovery and CO2 capture & storage: an environmental economic trade-off analysis. Journal of Environmental Management, 239, 167-177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.03.007
Welkenhuysen, K., Meyvis, B., Swennen, R. & Piessens, K., 2018. Economic threshold of CO2-EOR and CO2 storage in the North Sea: a case study of the Claymore, Scott and Buzzard oil fields. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 78, 271-285. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2018.08.013
Compernolle, T., Welkenhuysen, K., Huisman, K., Piessens, K. & Kort, P., 2017. Off-shore enhanced oil recovery in the North Sea: The impact of price uncertainty on the investment decisions. Energy Policy, 101, 123-137. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2016.11.034
Welkenhuysen, K., Rupert, J., Compernolle, T., Ramirez, A., Swennen, R., & Piessens, K., 2017. Considering economic and geological uncertainty in the simulation of realistic investment decisions for CO2-EOR projects in the North Sea. Applied Energy, 185 (1), 745-761. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.10.105
Piessens, K., Berenblyum, R., de Dios, C., Haldik, V., Koenen, M. & Welkenhuysen, K., 2017. Developing, testing and demonstrating onshore storage of CO2: First results from the ENOS field sites. European Geologist, 44, 6-10. https://eurogeologists.eu/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/EGJ44_lr-1.pdf
Welkenhuysen, K., Meyvis, B., & Piessens, K., 2017. A profitability study of CO2-EOR and subsequent CO2 storage in the North Sea under low oil market prices. Energy Procedia 114, 7060-7069. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2017.03.1848
Welkenhuysen, K., 2017. Integration of geoscientific data and uncertainties in techno-economic forecasting on CO2 capture and storage. Doctoral thesis, KU Leuven, 212p.
Welkenhuysen, K., Brüstle, A.-K., Bottig, M., Ramírez, A., Swennen, R. & Piessens, K., 2016. A techno-economic approach for capacity assessment and ranking of potential options for geological storage of CO2 in Austria. Geologica Belgica, 19 (3-4), 237-249. http://dx.doi.org/10.20341/gb.2016.012
Welkenhuysen, K., Meyvis, B. & Piessens, K., 2015. Techno-economic evaluation of CO2-EOR in the North Sea. In: Ball, M., Mann, I. & Sim, G. (Eds.), CO2 storage and Enhanced Oil Recovery in the North Sea: Securing a low-carbon future for the UK, Scottish Carbon Capture & Storage, Edinburgh, 27-30. ISBN 978-0-9927483-2-6 https://era.ed.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/1842/15724/SCCS-CO2-EOR-JIP-Report-SUMMARY.pdf
Welkenhuysen, K., Meyvis, B. & Piessens, K., 2015. Techno-economic evaluation of CO2-EOR in the North Sea. SCCS CO2-EOR Joint Industry Project, 41 p. https://www.sccs.org.uk/sites/default/files/inline-files/Techno-economic%20evaluation%20of%20CO%E2%82%82-EOR%20in%20the%20North%20Se.pdf
Korre, A., Delprat-Jannaud, F., Piessens, K., Welkenhuysen, K., Falus, G., Vähäkuopus, T., Nordbäck, N., Poulsen, N., Wickström, L., Dudu, A., Vincent, C. J., Car, M., Wójcicki, A., Arts, R., Hladik, V., Molinero, R., Martinez, R., Komatina, S., Akervoll, I., Brüstle, A. K., Götzl, G., Brikmane, B., Hatzignatiou, D., 2014. State-of-the-art of directives and regulatory regimes related to operational and safety risks. CGS Europe report No. D3.5, Korre, A. & Delprat-Jannaud F. (Eds.) , 125 p.
Welkenhuysen, K., Compernolle, T., Piessens, K., Ramírez, A., Rupert, J. & Swennen, R., 2014. Geological uncertainty and investment risk in CO2-enhanced oil recovery. Energy Procedia, 63, 7878-7883. ISSN 1876-6102 http://dx.doi.com/10.1016/j.egypro.2014.11.823
Welkenhuysen, K., Ramirez, A., Swennen, R. & Piessens, K., 2013. Strategy for ranking potential CO2 storage reservoirs: a case study for Belgium. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 17, 431-449. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2013.05.025
Nesladek, M., Helsen, S., Piessens, K., Van Passel, S., Gaydardzhiev, S., Kryukova, V., Myngheer, S., Janssens, R., Welkenhuysen, K., Compernolle, T., Mathieu, P. & Dusar, M., 2013. Final ACCESS report – Clean Coal Technologies and Carbon Capture and Storage in Kazakhstan: Reflections and ACCESS project results. Myngheer, S., Janssens, R., Welkenhuysen, K. & Compernolle, T. (Eds.), 72 p. ISBN 978-90-8913-025-9
Piessens, K., Welkenhuysen K., Laenen, B., Ferket, H., Nijs, W., Duerinck, J., Cochez, E., Mathieu, Ph., Valentiny, D., Baele, J.-M., Dupont, N. & Hendriks, Ch., 2012. Policy Support System for Carbon Capture and Storage and Collaboration between Belgium-the Netherlands “PSS-CCS”, Final report. Belgian Science Policy Office, Research Programme Science for a Sustainable Development contracts SD/CP/04a,b & SD/CP/803, 335 p. http://www.belspo.be/belspo/ssd/science/Reports/PSS-CCS_FinRep_AD.2.pdf
Piessens, K., 2012. The conceptual model for an abandoned coal mine reservoir. In: He, M., Ribeiro e Sousa, L., Elsworth, D. & Vargas Jr., E. (Eds.), CO2 Storage in Carboniferous Formations and Abandoned Coal Mines, p. 179-200. Taylor & Francis Group, London. ISBN 978-0-415-62079-6.
Welkenhuysen, K., 2012. The cost of CO2 geological storage is more than a number. European Geologist, 33, 9-13. http://eurogeologists.eu/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/a_Magazine-May2012.pdf
Welkenhuysen, K., Piessens, K., Baele, J-.M., Laenen, B. & Dusar, M., 2011. CO2 storage opportunities in Belgium. Energy Procedia, 4, 4913-4920. ISSN 1876-6102 http://dx.doi.com/10.1016/j.egypro.2011.02.460
Piessens, K., 2011. Quantifying the CO2 storage potential in Belgium: Working with theoretical capacities. Energy Procedia, 4, 4905-4912. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2011.02.459
Piessens, K., Baele, J.-M., De Weireld, G., Dreesen, R., Dusar, M., Laenen, B., Mathieu, P. & Swennen, R., 2010. CO2 Capture and Storage: Inevitable for a climate friendly Belgium. Royal Belgian Academy Council of Applied Science, 19 p. ISBN 9789065690654 https://kvab.be/sites/default/rest/blobs/488/tw_CO2_capture_storage.pdf
Piessens, K., Laenen, B., Nijs, W., Mathieu, P., Baele, J.-M., Hendriks, Ch., Bertrand, E., Bierkens, J., Brandsma, R., Broothaers, M., de Visser, E., Dreesen, R., Hildenbrand, S., Lagrou, D., Vandeginste, V. & Welkenhuysen, K., 2009. Policy Support System for Carbon Capture and Storage “PSS-CCS”, Final report Phase 1. Belgian Science Policy Office, Research Programme Science for a Sustainable Development contract SD/CP/04a, Brussels, 268 p. http://www.belspo.be/belspo/ssd/science/FinalReports/Reports/PSS-CCS_FinRep_2008.DEF.pdf
Piessens, K. & Dusar, M., 2004. Feasibility of CO2 sequestration in abandoned coal mines in Belgium. Geologica Belgica, 7 (3-4), 165-180. https://popups.uliege.be/1374-8505/index.php?id=308
Piessens, K. & Dusar, M., 2004. Integration of CO2 sequestration and CO2 geothermics in energy systems for abandoned coal mines. Geologica Belgica, 7 (3-4), 181-189. https://popups.uliege.be/1374-8505/index.php?id=315
