The eternal promise of carbon capture, utilisation and storage: Is there a business case?

Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) technologies are often described as essential tools for meeting global climate goals and are regularly included in international climate strategies. However, their large-scale implementation remains limited, raising questions about their practical viability. This research examines how CCUS technologies and their commercial promise have evolved over time. To trace changing narratives and expectations, publicly available scientific and technical reports published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the International Energy Agency between 1990 and 2023 were analysed. In addition, practical insights were gathered through semi-structured interviews with stakeholders from academia and business to assess current views on CCUS deployment and its commercial potential. Findings indicate that while interest in CCUS technologies has grown over time, actual deployment continues to lag far behind the levels required to meet earlier projections and climate targets. Financial and regulatory challenges remain persistent obstacles. By combining document analysis with stakeholder insights, this research contributes to the understanding of the structural and discursive factors that shape the persistent gap between CCUS’s theoretical promise and its real-world outcomes. • CCUS technologies face deployment challenges despite 30 years of high expectations. • A persistent gap exists between CCUS’s theoretical potential and actual deployment. • Stakeholder views highlight uncertainty over CCUS as a viable business case.