Greece has introduced a comprehensive draft law to regulate carbon capture and storage, signalling its strategic move into the global decarbonisation landscape amid Europe’s growing adoption of CCS technology.
Greece has taken a significant legislative step towards advancing carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, introducing a draft law that establishes a comprehensive framework for the safe capture, utilisation, transport, and geological storage of carbon dioxide (CO₂). This regulatory framework outlines critical aspects of sector licensing, access conditions to storage facilities, and compensatory measures for regions hosting CO₂ storage sites. According to the Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy, this initiative positions Greece among a select group of countries globally that are adopting cutting-edge CCS technologies, gaining international expertise, and developing domestic capabilities to combat climate change in a scientifically grounded and transparent manner.
CCS technology, which has a proven track record in countries like Canada, Norway, and the United States, is increasingly embraced across Europe. Nations such as Denmark, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, and Italy are developing substantial projects aimed at reducing industrial emissions. Norway, in particular, has pioneered CCS efforts with projects like the Sleipner facility, operational since 1996, which captures about one million tonnes of CO₂ annually and the Northern Lights project, a key part of Norway’s Longship initiative, which plans to expand CO₂ injection capacity to at least five million tonnes per year by the end of the decade with significant backing from major energy corporations and the European Commission.
Greece’s move aligns with broader European and global industrial decarbonisation strategies. Germany, for instance, recently launched a €6 billion programme aimed at decarbonising energy-intensive sectors such as chemicals, steel, cement, and glass by incorporating CCS into their climate strategies. The German initiative offers long-term contracts and subsidies to firms adopting cleaner production methods, reflecting a pragmatic approach to maintain industrial competitiveness amid volatile energy and carbon markets.
On a parallel front, energy giants like Saudi Aramco are investing in direct air capture (DAC) alongside CCS, highlighting diversified approaches to carbon management. Aramco’s pilot DAC unit removes CO₂ directly from the atmosphere and serves as a groundwork for scaling to larger facilities, while its Jubail CCS project aims to sequester millions of tonnes of CO₂ annually by mid-decade. Such projects underscore how CCS and related technologies are integral to the net-zero ambitions of major oil exporters and industrial players alike.
The significance of Greece’s legislative framework is compounded by the country’s recent hydrogen law, which sets up a national market for renewable and low-carbon hydrogen. Together, these laws establish Greece’s commitment to a broad-based decarbonisation ecosystem incorporating multiple low-carbon technologies.
While CCS is often heralded as a critical tool for industrial decarbonisation, it remains the subject of debate. Critics caution that CCS, which currently captures a fraction of global emissions, may risk delaying more fundamental emissions reductions by allowing continued fossil fuel reliance. Nonetheless, proponents argue that CCS projects like Denmark’s Greensand Future, set to become the EU’s first offshore CCS facility using depleted oil fields, are essential to meeting ambitious net-zero targets. The project aims to store millions of tonnes of CO₂ underwater by 2030, with geological assessments confirming the viability of permanent storage.
Greece’s draft law thus emerges in a dynamic and complex landscape where CCS is a recognised but challenging technology requiring robust regulation, investment, and integration with other climate solutions like hydrogen. By aligning with internationally tested frameworks, Greece is preparing to enter the CCS market with a focus on safety, transparency, and scientific rigour. For industrial decarbonisation professionals, the Greek initiative offers a case study in how countries with emerging CCS markets are positioning themselves within a rapidly evolving global energy transition.
- https://ceenergynews.com/climate/greece-introduce-bill-on-ccs/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/germany-launches-6-bln-eur-industrial-decarbonisation-program-includes-ccs-2025-10-06/ – Germany has launched a €6 billion industrial decarbonisation programme, incorporating carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology into its climate strategy. The initiative aims to support energy-intensive sectors such as chemicals, steel, cement, and glass in reducing emissions while maintaining industrial competitiveness. Companies have until December 1 to register projects for the 2026 bidding round, pending parliamentary and EU approval. The programme will provide 15-year contracts that subsidise firms transitioning to cleaner production methods, helping shield them from volatile energy and carbon costs. Industry groups welcomed the move, praising the inclusion of CCS and the flexible, economically pragmatic approach amidst challenges like high energy costs and weakening industrial output.
- https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/saudi-aramco-launches-first-direct-air-capture-test-unit-2025-03-20/ – Saudi Aramco has launched its first direct air capture (DAC) pilot unit, developed in collaboration with Siemens Energy. This facility, the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia, is designed to remove 12 tons of CO₂ annually from the atmosphere. The test unit will aid in evaluating carbon capture materials and technologies as the company aims to scale viable DAC systems for broader deployment. Aramco, the world’s top oil exporter, targets net-zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2050 and views captured CO₂ as a potential feedstock for sustainable chemicals and fuels. Announced in 2023, the DAC pilot marks the foundation for a larger planned facility capable of capturing 1,250 tons of CO₂ annually. In parallel, Aramco has partnered with SLB and Linde to establish a carbon capture and storage project in Jubail, Saudi Arabia, which aims to capture up to 9 million tons of CO₂ per year by 2027. Additionally, Aramco has invested in other carbon capture initiatives, including an $80 million funding round for CarbonCapture, a U.S.-based startup.
- https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/shell-equinor-totalenergies-invest-714-million-carbon-storage-expansion-2025-03-27/ – Shell, Equinor, and TotalEnergies have announced a joint investment of 7.5 billion Norwegian crowns ($714 million) to expand their Northern Lights carbon storage facility in western Norway. This decision follows the signing of a 15-year commercial agreement with Stockholm Exergi to transport and store 900,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually. The expansion will more than triple the facility’s CO₂ injection capacity from 1.5 million to at least 5 million tonnes per year, equivalent to about 10% of Norway’s annual emissions. The Northern Lights project is part of Norway’s broader Longship initiative, launched in 2020 to advance carbon capture and storage (CCS). Phase one of Northern Lights was completed in September and is slated to begin receiving CO₂ deliveries later this year. The upcoming second phase, expected to be operational in late 2028, will support an additional injection of 3.5 million tonnes annually. The expansion includes the construction of new onshore tanks, pumps, a jetty, injection wells, and additional CO₂ transport vessels. The European Commission is supporting the project with a €131 million ($141 million) grant.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_capture_and_storage – Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a technology designed to capture carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from sources like fossil fuel power plants and industrial processes, preventing CO₂ from entering the atmosphere. The captured CO₂ is then transported and stored underground in geological formations. Norway has been a pioneer in CCS, with the Sleipner facility operational since 1996, injecting approximately 1 million tonnes of CO₂ annually into a saline aquifer. The Northern Lights project, part of Norway’s Longship initiative, aims to create a shared CO₂ transport and storage network for European industries. The UK has also been active in CCS, with the HyNet CCS and East Coast Cluster schemes receiving significant government subsidies to support their development. Other European countries, including Denmark, the Netherlands, and Germany, are implementing national policies to support CCS technology as part of their climate strategies.
- https://www.dlapiper.com/en-US/insights/publications/2025/09/greece-enacts-first-hydrogen-law-establishing-national-hydrogen-market-framework – On 4 July 2025, Greece published Law 5215/2025, establishing the country’s first dedicated legal framework for the production, transport, storage, distribution, and commercialization of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen. This law represents a significant step in Greece’s efforts to decarbonise its economy and aligns with the EU Hydrogen Strategy and the European Green Deal. The framework introduces the Hydrogen Producer Certificate (HPC), a mandatory step for developing hydrogen production units in Greece, and establishes a national Guarantee of Origin (GoO) system for hydrogen, allowing producers to certify the origin and carbon intensity of their product. The law also provides a formal basis for state support to hydrogen projects, including investment aid and operational subsidies, in line with the EU’s Clean Industrial Deal State Aid Framework.
- https://apnews.com/article/060306c826ba527b2c4b91e41ff57865 – The Greensand Future project, led by INEOS in Denmark’s North Sea, is set to become the EU’s first offshore carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility, repurposing the depleted Nini oil field to inject liquefied CO₂ 1,800 meters below the seabed. It aims to store 400,000 tons of CO₂ annually initially, scaling up to 8 million tons by 2030. The project includes a CO₂ terminal in Esbjerg and a specialized transport vessel. Proponents view CCS as a key climate solution, aligning with EU goals to store 250 million tons of CO₂ yearly by 2040 to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Geologists confirm the site’s geological suitability for permanent CO₂ sequestration. However, critics argue CCS might divert focus from reducing emissions, as current technology captures only a small fraction of global emissions—38 billion tons annually—and may enable industries to delay genuine decarbonization. INEOS defends continuing oil and gas operations during the transition phase, asserting that domestically produced energy has a lower environmental footprint than imports.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative presents recent developments in Greece’s legislative efforts on carbon capture and storage (CCS). The earliest known publication date of similar content is 13 November 2025, reporting on a €3.6 billion CCS project pipeline in Greece. ([iene.eu](https://www.iene.eu/energy-news/project-pipeline-in-greece-for-co2-capture-storage-nearing-eur-4-billion-p8126.html?utm_source=openai)) The report is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. However, the narrative includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. Additionally, the narrative mentions Greece’s recent hydrogen law, enacted on 4 July 2025, which sets up a national market for renewable and low-carbon hydrogen. ([dlapiper.com](https://www.dlapiper.com/en-at/insights/publications/2025/09/greece-enacts-first-hydrogen-law-establishing-national-hydrogen-market-framework?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative includes direct quotes attributed to the Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy. A search for the earliest known usage of these quotes reveals no exact matches, suggesting they may be original or exclusive content. However, without confirmation from external sources, the originality of these quotes cannot be fully verified.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The narrative originates from CE Energy News, a specialised energy news outlet. While it provides detailed coverage of energy-related topics, its reputation and editorial standards are not as well-established as those of major news organisations. This raises some uncertainty regarding the reliability of the information presented.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims made in the narrative align with known developments in Greece’s energy sector, including the establishment of a national hydrogen market and significant investments in CCS projects. The narrative provides specific details, such as the €150 million state aid for the Prinos carbon storage facility, which have been reported by other reputable outlets. ([ekathimerini.com](https://www.ekathimerini.com/economy/1252025/eu-green-lights-state-aid-for-prinos-carbon-storage-unit/?utm_source=openai)) However, the lack of coverage from major news organisations on this specific legislative development raises questions about its prominence and potential impact.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative presents recent developments in Greece’s legislative efforts on carbon capture and storage (CCS). While the information aligns with known developments and includes specific details corroborated by other sources, the reliance on a press release and the lack of coverage from major news organisations raise concerns about the freshness and prominence of the information. The originality of the quotes cannot be fully verified, and the source’s reliability is uncertain. Therefore, the overall assessment is ‘OPEN’ with medium confidence.
