We were proud to have had our Director, Matt Healey, deliver a keynote at the Japan CCUS Summit, held on 15–16 October 2025 in Tokyo.

In his presentation, “Risks in CCS – a Pragmatic View,” Matt explored the emerging CCS industrial hub model, where CO₂ from multiple industries is combined into shared pipelines and shipping networks.

A Milestone in CCS

As a developing industry, as of August 2025, Northern Lights has become the first operational CCS industrial hub, marking a significant milestone in the global CCS landscape. This achievement highlights both the pioneering nature of CCS and the critical importance of understanding the associated risks.

Key Takeaways from the Keynote

Industrial Hub Projects:

  • Most CCS projects globally are designed as industrial hubs, yet the sector is still young, with much to learn from early projects.

Understanding Risks:

  • The real risks faced by CCS projects are not limited to what is already known. There are also new elements of this industry (known unknowns), and unexpected surprises (unknown unknowns) that can emerge during project development and operation.

Lessons from Real-World Projects:

  • Gorgon CCS (Australia): Startup delayed by almost three years due to corrosion risks.
  • Mainz, Germany: CO₂ release from a tanker in 2015 caused minor injury but highlighted material compatibility challenges.
  • Denbury, USA: 100t CO₂ leak in 2024 demonstrates that unexpected infrastructure failures can occur.

Critical Risk Areas:

  • Corrosion remains a key concern, even for Northern Lights, with potential production of acids and solids that must be carefully managed.
  • Commercial focus should remain on CO₂ capture, the largest cost component, while leveraging engineering and operational expertise to mitigate risks.

Pace CCS Expertise:

At Pace CCS, we combine deep technical expertise with hands-on experience to ensure CCS projects are safe, efficient, and commercially viable. Matt’s keynote underscores why rigorous risk management is essential for the continued growth and success of carbon capture and storage.

For further information or our engineering support please contact Mark Ames – mark@paceccs.com