German Carbon Management Initiative

When the Carbon Storage Act came into force in 2012, the transportation and storage of CO₂ was banned in Germany, with a few exceptions. The export of CO₂ to foreign storage sites is also currently not permitted.

The discussion on climate protection measures has progressed since then, and there is now a broad consensus that carbon management is an important building block in the fight against climate change.Politicians must now set the course to legalize the efficient, economic and sustainable use of CO₂ – for a climate-neutral future. With its strong industry, infrastructure and access to the North Sea, Germany has the potential to play a leading role in carbon management technologies.

• Establish a legal basis for CCU/S: Pass the amendment to the Carbon Dioxide Storage Act (KSpG) quickly and publish a carbon management strategy to legalize CCU/S and give companies guidance and planning security.
• Enable CO₂ exports: Legally enable international storage of CO₂ by ratifying the London Protocol and adapting the High Seas Contribution Act.
• Targeted promotion of CCU/S: Support CCU/S projects through funding programs such as Contracts for Difference (CfD) and ensure support for long-term contracts for investment security and market stability.
• Expand European CO₂ infrastructure: Create CO₂ clusters, develop a national multimodal transport infrastructure and promote export opportunities via terminals and pipelines.
• Use negative emissions for climate protection: Make CO₂ removal technologies such as direct air capture (DAC) and bioenergy with CO₂ storage (BECCS) economically viable and anchor them in climate protection strategies.
• Advancing low carbon Hydrogen: Establish low carbon hydrogen (via CCS) as an integral part of the German and European hydrogen strategy, create clear framework conditions and promote investment.

The German Carbon Management Initiative (DCMI) is the central platform for companies in the CO₂ value chain in Germany. It pools expertise along the entire CO₂ value chain – from carbon capture technologies to trade and transportation to the storage and the use of CO₂ – in order to promote carbon management in Germany. The initiative promotes dialog between industry, science, environmental associations and politics. The aim is to establish carbon management as an effective climate protection instrument and to create the political and economic framework conditions for the market ramp-up. The initiative is supported by Die Gas- und Wasserstoffwirtschaft e.V. (The German Gas and Hydrogen Industry).

Alongside renewable energies and hydrogen, carbon management is essential for capturing, transporting and safely storing hard-to-avoid and unavoidable CO₂ emissions or using them as a raw material. Germany needs a clear legal framework and an efficient CO₂ infrastructure in order to keep pace with its European neighbors.

The DCMI is committed to economically viable and socially accepted carbon management. It helps shape the political framework, drives forward the development of the CO₂ infrastructure and communicates transparently to the public, politicians and industry about the opportunities and necessity of CCU/S.

Voices on the importance of carbon management

Prof. Otmar Edenhofer, Director and Chief Economist at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK): “We need both Carbon Capture and Storage and Carbon Dioxide Removal technologies, if we want to achieve net zero CO₂ emissions by 2045.”

(Source: https://www.pik-potsdam.de/de/aktuelles/nachrichten/edenhofer-zur-vorstellung-der-carbon-management-strategie-der-bundesregierung, Access: 26.02.2024)

Friedrich Merz, Chairman of the CDU Germany and the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag: “Why don’t we try a technological approach, – one based onthat of the circular economy? The keywords are CCS and CCU. This refers to the underground storage or recycling of carbon dioxide in solid form. Captured CO₂ in compressed form is a valuable raw material that can be utilized by industry. We must no longer demonize this substance. If we approach the energy transition in this way, we may even be able to remove more CO₂ from the atmosphere than we release by 2045.”

(Source: https://www.cducsu.de/themen/wir-brauchen-eine-positive-vorstellung-von-der-zukunft, Access: 01.11.2023)

Mona Neubaur, Minister for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia: “Our primary objective is, of course, to avoid CO₂ emissions. But even in a climate-neutral North Rhine-Westphalia of the future, we will still be dependent on carbon-containing raw materials. However, by capturing and reusing carbon dioxide, we can use CO₂ sustainably or even recycle it. In this way, for example, we can supply the chemical industry with sustainable carbon and make a contribution to climate protection.”

(Source: https://www.land.nrw/pressemitteilung/foerderwettbewerb-fuer-ccu-modellregionen-nrw-zur-nachhaltigen-nutzung-von-co2, Access: 29.08.2024)