Poland has strong foundations for large-scale carbon capture and storage, with the next phase focused on building the commercial, regulatory and infrastructure conditions needed for deployment at scale
By Oystein Bergmann, Bureau Chief, Scandinavia
Poland has many of the foundations required to develop a significant carbon capture and storage (CCS) market, according to a new report from the Global CCS Institute.
Status of CCS in Poland, launched today, examines the country’s industrial demand for CCS, geological storage potential and growing project activity, as well as the practical steps needed to support commercial-scale deployment.
Poland’s industrial sites emitted 42.2 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024, with emissions concentrated in sectors including cement, refining, iron and steel and chemicals. Many of these industries produce process emissions that are difficult to address through other decarbonisation measures.
The report also highlights Poland’s substantial prospective geological CO₂ storage resource, estimated at approximately 10–15 Gt, alongside the recent designation of 18 areas for CO₂ storage exploration.
More than €250 million(US$282.9million) in EU funding has already been awarded to Polish CCS projects, with activity developing across capture, transport and storage.
Head of Europe at the Global CCS Institute, Dr. Richard Leese said: “Poland already has many of the ingredients needed for a significant CCS industry: a clear industrial need, substantial storage potential and projects moving forward.
“The next step is to connect those foundations into a commercial value chain that gives industry the confidence to invest and deploy at scale. Clear arrangements for CO₂ transport and storage, appropriate long-term financial support and a coordinated national pathway will all be important.”
The report identifies several priorities for the next phase of CCS development in Poland, including:
*developing a clear national CCS strategy and deployment pathway
*progressing CO₂ transport infrastructure and the associated regulatory framework
*advancing storage permitting and ensuring financial requirements are proportionate to project scale and risk
*developing long-term financial support mechanisms that improve project bankability
*strengthening public engagement as CCS deployment advances
President of the Board, CCUS Poland Association, Paweł Gładysz, PhD said: “Poland has the emitters, the geology and the first projects. What we need next is a market – clear rules for CO₂ transport and storage, long-term financial support and a national pathway everyone can plan around. This report shows how far we have come and how much depends on government, industry and science community pulling in the same direction.”
The report incorporates insights from Polish CCS stakeholders gathered during a meeting convened by the Global CCS Institute and CCUS Poland Association in June 2026. The Institute also acknowledges the special contribution of CCUS Poland Association and the Polish Geological Institute
Dr Leese added: “CCS can play an important role in supporting Poland’s industrial competitiveness while contributing to its long-term emissions reduction objectives. The opportunity now is to turn momentum into implementation.”
