On May 6th, Bioenergia ry and VTT co-hosted the second Bio-CO₂ Use & Removal Conference in Helsinki, bringing together over 180 participants from across Europe and North America. The event offered a comprehensive overview of current developments in carbon dioxide removal (CDR), utilization, and storage, with a strong focus on bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), emerging technologies, and policy frameworks.
A clear thread throughout the event was the recognition that Finland and the Nordic region have significant potential to lead on BECCS and other CO₂ removal technologies. However, that potential must now be matched by political will and stronger market signals. Several speakers emphasized that final investment decisions are being delayed, not for lack of technology, but due to regulatory uncertainty and the absence of consistent incentives.
The need to establish a functional commercial market for removals and to align EU and national policy frameworks with climate targets was seen as key to unlocking investment decisions. While the EU has set an ambitious goal to capture 15 million tonnes of CO₂ annually by 2030, participants agreed this will only be achieved with faster infrastructure development, clearer standards for removals, and dedicated support mechanisms.
Setting the Scene: Net Zero and Industrial Removals
The morning session provided a political and strategic framing for the day. Stefan Nygård from Sumitomo SHI FW presented the company’s "Veturi" development program, focused on sustainable fuels, carbon capture, and energy storage. Erik Rylander from Stockholm Exergi followed with insights into the Stockholm BECCS project developments and its recently announced new removal deals with Microsoft.
Other presentations covered the prospects for CCUS in North America and the role of industrial removals in reaching the EU’s 2040 climate target. From the presentation of Dr. Vera Eory from the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change, several key recommendations were raised to strengthen the policy environment for removals in the EU, such as:
These recommendations reflect a growing consensus: removals are not a substitute for reducing emissions but must be part of a broader strategy—with well-defined roles, limits, and governance.
Deep Dive Sessions: Technologies, Infrastructure, Utilization, and Storage
The afternoon parallel sessions offered technical insights and case studies across four tracks. Speakers explored innovations such as carbon materials from CO₂, direct ocean capture, and integrating carbon capture into e-fuel production. The role of precise measurement technologies in CCUS was also highlighted as critical for building trust and ensuring transparency.
The development of CO₂ transport and storage infrastructure remains a bottleneck. On that point, presentations covered services for logistics, material compatibility in energy systems, and lessons from decentralized projects in the Nordics. A key takeaway was the importance of moving from isolated pilot projects to shared infrastructure models that can achieve economies of scale and reduce project costs up to 30%.
Another session addressed the global outlook for carbon capture and utilization (CCU), the growing e-SAF market, and carbon circularity in industry. Finland’s position in this emerging value chain was discussed, with a call to support local innovations through policy and investment.
Speakers also presented ongoing work on biochar integration in construction materials, storage initiatives in the Baltics, and project developments in Denmark. A presentation on BECCS initiatives in Northern Europe showed that the region is moving forward but needs stronger alignment between project development and policy support.
What comes next?
The conference made it clear that while technological readiness is advancing, the missing piece is often policy alignment and commercial viability. Speakers and participants alike stressed the need to shift from discussing potential to enabling deployment. With stronger signals from governments, both in the form of incentives, technology recognition, and clear regulatory frameworks, more final investment decisions could follow.