The gasworld European CO2 Summit 2025 marked a shift from the opulent surroundings of previous years at Austria’s Interalpen Hotel, nestled among alpine scenery, to the industrious city centre of Rotterdam. The move, while a departure, made perfect sense given Rotterdam’s role in Europe’s energy transition and decarbonisation drive.
The city is becoming a hub for innovative carbon management and infrastructure projects, such as Porthos and Aramis, named after two of the Three Musketeers, symbolising the strength and ingenuity in Europe’s efforts to manage and store CO2.
At the event, Dorus Bakker, Director of Finance at Porthos, spoke about Rotterdam’s strategic importance, describing a broad energy transition underpinned by carbon capture and storage (CCS), sustainable transport, and hydrogen production.
He noted that previous attempts at CCS in Rotterdam encountered hurdles, but the current effort, the Porthos project, aims to transport 37 million tonnes of CO2 to offshore storage, and is strongly supported by the Dutch government.
Industrial gas majors Air Products and Nippon Gases also presented shared messages regarding the unreliability of ammonia-derived CO2 due to geopolitical instabilities and fluctuating gas prices.
Harco van den Berg, Business Manager in Benelux at Air Products called for a stronger focus on biogenic CO2, captured from biogas and biomethane sources, while Azin Eskandari, Europe Business Development Manager HyCO at Nippon Gases concurred in highlighting the company’s strategic shift toward biogenic alternatives in countries such as Spain, Germany and the UK.
This biogenic potential was supported by Pablo Molina, Technical and Project Officer at the European Biogas Association, who explained that biogenic CO2 from biomethane production could in theory meet up to 71% of Europe’s merchant CO2 demand. Molina called urgently for regulatory clarity and certification schemes to help make it happen more quickly.
Pablo Molina, Technical and Project Officer at the European Biogas Association
Amid this transition, innovative start-ups like Belgium’s D-CRBN and Oxylum showcased cutting-edge technologies for recycling CO2. D-CRBN’s CEO Gill Scheltjens described their plasma-based technology for converting industrial CO2 emissions into carbon monoxide, a crucial feedstock for sustainable chemical production, stating, “Imagine a future where all the products we use every day are built from CO2.”
In a similar vein, Oxylum CEO Bert de Mot outlined the company’s electrochemical approach, converting CO2 directly into valuable chemicals used in numerous industrial applications. Both start-ups demonstrated how innovation could reshape the place of CO2 in industry.
Denmark-based biotech start-up Again also did something similar in showcasing a bacterial gas fermentation approach to convert industrial CO2 into commercially viable products such as acetic acid and fertilisers.
Discussion also centred around CCS logistics and infrastructure. Nick van den Boogaart from the Dutch energy operator Gasunie illustrated how multi-purpose terminals, like the planned facility in Rotterdam, could improve the flexibility and efficiency of CO2 transport compared with pipelines.
Financial and regulatory considerations for CCS and carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) were also critically evaluated. Presentations by financial services firm Longspur Capital and Stephen Harrison of smbh4 Consulting addressed investment landscapes, underlining the importance of clear policy frameworks, thorough planning, and the bankability of new technologies and projects.
Harrison spoke about the complexities involved, saying, “Due diligence is not just about verifying numbers; it’s about understanding team dynamics, regulatory risk, and the viability of technology at different stages.”
A highlight at the Summit was the launch of gasworld’s Atom industrial gas intelligence platform. Content Director Rob Cockerill introduced the platform as an essential tool providing market insights, real-time data, and analytical capabilities, crucial for industry stakeholders in navigating the complexities of the evolving CO2 market landscape.
The Summit featured the launch of gasworld’s Atom industrial gas intelligence platform, being showcased here by the gasworld team to event speakers and delegates
Reflecting on the event, the choice of Rotterdam was a good fit. The city embodies Europe’s commitment to industrial decarbonisation, with engagement from government bodies, industry leaders, innovative start-ups, and investors alike.
As attendees dispersed, the consensus was clear: collaboration, innovation, regulatory clarity, and investment are the vital elements needed to achieve Europe’s ambitious CO2 management, utilisation, and decarbonisation objectives.
