CCS in the east of Berlin
Samran @ stock.adobe.com
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) in Germany
The EU is investing a total of 157 million Euro just a few kilometres east of Berlin: from around 2030, 1.3 million tonnes of CO₂ are to be captured each year at the CEMEX plant in Rüdersdorf and then stored in the North Sea. Tanya Srivastava is managing this project for CEMEX. The engineer has been fascinated by this technology ever since her university days, but she also recognises the challenges it presents.
CCS – the technology
The basic process for capturing and storing carbon has been around for almost a hundred years. Nevertheless, the technology has not yet become widely established. Why is that? “For a very long time, we didn’t take the technology seriously. And there are still many nations that do not even regard climate change as a threat.” However, Tanya Srivastava also emphasises that CCS can only be part of the solution; efficiency and renewable energy are essential building blocks on the path to climate neutrality.
Following its capture in Rüdersdorf, the CO₂ will be transported by rail in liquefied form to storage sites in the North Sea. “We are currently in talks with operators of storage projects and transport companies. This process also involves safety issues and the regulation of cross-border transport.” Tanya Srivastava does not yet consider the on-site utilisation of carbon in the form of CCU (carbon capture and utilisation) to be a realistic option in Germany.
We are researching how CO₂ can be used for synthetic fuels, for example. Unfortunately, regulations in Europe are still very strict in this regard; for example, CO₂ derived from fossil fuels cannot be used for this purpose.
CCS – the challenges
By 2040, the EU aims to store a total of 50 million tonnes of CO₂ – every year. “We are still a long way from making that possible. At the moment, the EU is only storing around one million tonnes annually.” For the EU to achieve its targets, close cooperation is needed between industry and regulators, technology providers and society. This is also necessary to mitigate the risks for businesses. “At present, carbon capture and storage costs over 200 Euro per tonne, whereas the cost of emissions under the European Union’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) currently stands at around 80 Euro – substantially lower.” In addition to funding, there is also a need for simplified regulation and the provision of suitable grid connections, as well as sufficient renewable energy.
CCS – raising awareness
To date, awareness of CCS remains relatively low in Germany, says Tanya Srivastava. The situation is different in, for example, Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, and the UK. At the same time, she has seen how open the local community around the cement plant in Rüdersdorf is to this issue. “We were in close contact with the mayor and civil society. At public events where we explained the projects, there was a great deal of interest – for example, in how much rail traffic there will be and where we source our energy from.”
Tanya Srivastava holds a Bachelor’s degree from the Harcourt Butler Technological Institute in Kanpur (India), a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering and an Engineering Doctorate from Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) (Netherlands).. She has been working for the construction materials company CEMEX since 2022, initially as a Senior Advisor in the CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage) division, and now as a CCUS Manager.
Further information
eco@work, September 2026 issue: CCS – A useful climate protection measure?