Solvang ASA's Clipper Eris, fitted with a Wartsila CCS system (Solvang), img src: https://maritime-executive.com/article/dnv-15-of-shipboard-carbon-emissions-will-be-captured-with-ccs-by-2050
DNV Predicts Carbon Capture and Storage Capacity to Quadruple by 2030
Oslo, Norway — June 2025
Global carbon capture and storage (CCS) capacity is projected to quadruple by 2030, according to DNV’s recent Energy Transition Outlook: CCS to 2050. The report highlights a significant rise in investment, with more than $80 billion anticipated to be allocated toward CCS infrastructure by the end of the decade. Early momentum is evident in North America and Europe, primarily in natural gas processing, where the technology is already being deployed on a larger scale.
This marks a critical inflection point for CCS technologies, which are transitioning from small-scale pilots to large-scale commercial operations. DNV emphasizes that accelerating deployment is essential to meet net-zero carbon targets by mid-century.
By 2050, hard-to-abate sectors such as steel, cement, and chemicals are expected to account for 41 percent of global CCS use. The maritime industry, while slower to adopt, is also expected to begin utilizing onboard carbon capture systems (OCCS) starting in the 2040s. DNV estimates that these systems could capture approximately 15 percent of ship-based CO₂ emissions by mid-century.
While CCS costs are expected to decline by roughly 40 percent by 2050, economic and regulatory uncertainties pose ongoing risks. DNV notes that consistent carbon pricing mechanisms, tax incentives such as the U.S. 45Q program, and clear regulatory frameworks will be vital to maintaining investment momentum and ensuring long-term viability.
For the maritime sector, CCS represents a potential complement to alternative marine fuels such as methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen. Onboard systems could help vessel operators meet the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) decarbonization targets, particularly for long-haul and deep-sea shipping where zero-carbon fuel availability remains limited.
The successful adoption of maritime CCS will depend on the development of supporting infrastructure, including port-side CO₂ offloading terminals and subsea storage facilities. Collaboration among shipowners, classification societies, ports, and regulators will also be crucial to address both technical and economic challenges.
Although early studies suggest that onboard CCS may incur a 15 to 30 percent fuel penalty and storage costs ranging between $40 and $80 per tonne of CO₂, these figures could become more acceptable as carbon pricing mechanisms tighten and technology matures.
DNV’s outlook signals a major shift in global CCS deployment and underscores its potential as a critical tool in decarbonizing shipping. As global climate commitments intensify, the maritime industry may find in CCS a viable pathway to reduce emissions, particularly in conjunction with alternative fuel strategies. The next decade will be pivotal for integrating CCS into long-term emissions reduction plans across the entire energy and transport value chain.
