France has confirmed that carbon capture will play a role in its decarbonisation efforts.

Earlier this month, France released its national carbon capture strategy. The document outlines the industries in which carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) will be used and clarifies the interplay with EU-wide policy such as the Industrial Carbon Management Strategy and the recently enacted Net Zero Industry Act.

The strategy also details the country’s approach to storage (CCUS) and specifies targets for the period 2030 to 2050: 4 to 8 megatons per year before 2030, 12-20 Mtpa by 2040. Taking into account the development of a pan-European infrastructure by 2050, the goal is 30 to 50 Mtpa.

The plan is to create numerous hubs overlapping with industrial centres and aimed at driving the development of transport and storage infrastructure. Those in the north are expected to take advantage of sequestration capacity being developed by countries like Norway and Denmark, while those in the south will exploit options in Italy and Greece.

The strategy also tables a framework for the laws and regulations France will adopt. Their aim is to provide investors, emitters, and all other stakeholders with the certainty and predictability they need to plan capital and resource intensive mid and long-term projects. One such initiative is carbon contracts for differences (CCfD), designed to encourage commitment to contracts with a 15-year duration.