The use of captured carbon dioxide (CO₂) as raw material for new industrial processes is emerging as one of the key tools to advance the decarbonization of the economy and strengthen the competitiveness of the industrial fabric. This is one of the main conclusions of the study ‘Use of CO₂’prepared by the applied research and technological development center TECNALIA and recently presented by the Naturgy Foundation.
The report analyzes in depth the role of carbon capture and use (CCU) technologies as an essential complement to electrification and energy efficiency, especially in those industrial sectors that are difficult to decarbonize, such as refining, the chemical industry, the gas sector or construction materials.
In this context, the study proposes a paradigm shift by considering CO₂ not only as waste, but as a strategic resource capable of generating economic, environmental and industrial value.
New opportunities
The report analyzes the European and Spanish regulatory context that influences the development of CO₂ utilization technologies, highlighting European initiatives such as the Industrial Carbon Management Strategy and the climate objectives for 2040 and 2050, which provide for a significant capture of emissions. In Spain, although CCU technologies are recognized in strategic plans such as the PNIEC, it is still necessary to move towards a clearer and more specific regulatory framework that facilitates their deployment on an industrial scale.
The study also details the state of technological maturity of the main applications of CO₂, such as the production of synthetic fuels, the manufacturing of sustainable chemicals and the mineralization of CO₂ for construction materials. These solutions make it possible not only to reduce emissions, but also to promote the circular economy and sustainable reindustrialization.
Another relevant aspect of the report is the identification of specific opportunities for the Spanish industry. The document points out the potential of creating regional clusters that bring together CO₂ emitters, transport infrastructures and possible industrial uses, favoring synergies between energy companies, energy-intensive industries, technology centers and public administrations. This approach would make it possible to accelerate demonstration projects and reduce costs, while positioning Spain as a relevant actor in the circular carbon economy.
In conclusion, the study shows that the use of CO₂ is both a technological solution and a long-term industrial strategy, whose development requires innovation, investment, public-private collaboration and stable regulatory policies, for European climate objectives and generating new opportunities for economic growth and quality employment.
Presentation of the report
The report was presented by Soraya Prieto Fernández, Director of Circularity at TECNALIA, who explained that the document offers an exhaustive view of the current state of CO₂ capture and use technologies, in addition to analyzing the pending challenges to achieve its large-scale implementation.
The participants in the subsequent colloquium analyzed the main challenges and opportunities offered by the use of CO₂ from a multi-sector perspective.
Eduardo González Fernández, deputy director general of Climate Change Mitigation of the Spanish Climate Change Office (MITERD), highlighted the fundamental role of public administrations in creating a favorable regulatory environment that encourages the development of these technologies and allows compliance with the climate commitments assumed by Spain. “The European regulatory framework on carbon capture, storage and use is already in place, with defined directives and regulations that Member States must comply with and that are aligned with the objective of climate neutrality. In this context, CO₂ is emerging as a strategic resource, especially for the development of synthetic fuels,” he stated.
From a business perspective, Jesús Chapado, Innovation Director at Naturgy, highlighted the importance of innovation and public-private collaboration as essential drivers for the development of CO₂ utilization projects. Chapado also insisted on the need to take advantage of existing infrastructure and the knowledge accumulated in sectors such as gas to accelerate the implementation of technologies based on the circular carbon economy. “Faced with the limitations of the gas network, we are committed to converting it into synthetic natural gas by combining it with hydrogen, a technology that is close to becoming an industrial reality. However, significant barriers persist, especially in regulatory harmonization, administrative processes and social acceptance, although costs are beginning to approach competitive levels.”
For his part, José Luis Elejalde, director of Energy, Climate and Urban Transition at TECNALIA, highlighted the transformative potential of CCU technologies to generate new value chains and reinforce industrial and energy autonomy. Elejalde stressed that “the use of CO₂ must be understood as part of a broader energy transition strategy, in which technological innovation and cooperation between industry, research centers and administrations are essential.”
The debate was completed with the vision of the construction materials sector, led by Mariano García Hoyos, Sustainability Director of Holcim Spain, who explained the role of CO₂ mineralization and its application in new materials as an effective way to reduce the carbon footprint of the sector.
During the opening of the day, María Eugenia Coronado, general director of the Naturgy Foundation, highlighted the role of the Foundation as a space for reflection and meeting between the different agents involved in the energy transition. In his speech, he stressed the importance of addressing industrial decarbonization from a comprehensive perspective, combining technical rigor, long-term vision and dialogue between sectors.