Scientists from the Geostor research consortium, alongside environmental protection groups, have criticized the plans laid out by Federal Minister for Economic Affairs, Katherina Reiche (CDU). These plans involve capturing CO2 produced during industrial processes, transporting it via pipelines, and injecting it into storage sites, such as those under the North Sea (CCS).
Klaus Wallmann, the head of Geostor, told Spiegel that it is problematic to restrict progress in renewable energy while simultaneously hoping that expensive CCS technology will allow Germany to meet its climate goals. Wallmann stated that without a genuine shift, CCS simply becomes a mere token gesture hiding a slowdown in necessary climate protection efforts.
The Carbon Dioxide Storage and Transport Law (KSpTG), approved in 2025, does not preclude the use of CCS for natural gas; consequently, nearly all industries, excluding coal power plants, are eligible to apply for subsidies. However, Wallmann warned that Minister Reiche’s policy of “technological openness” is misguided. According to the consortium, CCS should only be applied to industries that genuinely cannot avoid their emissions through other means, such as the cement industry.
The financial burden of the technology is also a major issue. According to a recent analysis published by Geostor, the costs are estimated to range between 150 and 250 euros per tonne. This figure is significantly higher than the current CO2 price, which stands at approximately 74 euros.
Furthermore, the estimated storage capacity available in the North Sea is substantially shrinking based on new calculations. Within Germany’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), only sites capable of holding between 0.5 and 1.5 billion tonnes of CO2 are deemed suitable. Just two years ago, Wallmann and his team estimated capacity could reach up to 6 billion tonnes. The reasons for this considerable reduction in projected capacity include competing uses for the area, such as wind farms, shipping lanes, and nature reserves.
Because of these factors, Greenpeace is demanding a revision of the government’s planned Carbon Management Strategy. Karsten Smid told Greenpeace that the strategy is fundamentally flawed, having been developed based on projections of high CO2 storage capacity in the German North Sea that proved overly ambitious.
