The 2025 Shanghai CCUS Technology Forum highlighted China’s progress in Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS). Held on 22 April as part of IE Expo China – Asia’s leading environmental technology trade fair – the event was co-hosted by the China CCUS Association of the Chinese Society for Environmental Sciences, the Global CCS Institute, and IE Expo China.
With over 400 participants, including business leaders, researchers, and technology providers, the forum served as a key platform to exchange insights on scaling up CCUS deployment. The forum began with overviews on the domestic and global status of CCUS and then focused on topics including advanced technologies and equipment, prospects for a CCUS industry in China, and financing CCUS.
A New Phase for China’s CCUS Development
Since China announced its 30/60 carbon targets, CCUS development has entered a new phase, with large-scale demonstrations expanding beyond power and oil & gas into hard-to-abate sectors such as steel, cement, and chemicals, according to the China CCUS Association. The Association highlighted that relevant policy tools are becoming increasingly tailored to individual sectors, referencing the country’s new guidelines for retrofitting selected coal-fired power plants. The Institute’s China office contextualised these developments globally, showing that CCUS has been receiving growing policy support and public investments in infrastructure.
Technology Innovation
Technology innovation was a key theme throughout the forum. Huaneng Clean Energy Research Institute presented progress on Huaneng’s 1.5 Mtpa CCUS project in Gansu Province – set to become the world’s largest coal power CCUS facility, using their own advanced capture technology.
Other featured innovations included a 200 Ktpa oxy-fuel combustion project in the cement sector, as well as various developments in solvent technologies, onboard CCS for shipping, direct air capture, and carbon mineralisation. A panel of industry leaders and experts explored how these technologies are being adapted to suit varied industrial contexts.
Industry Outlook
Scaling up CCUS presents both challenges and opportunities, which vary across sectors. The China Energy New Energy Institute shared insights from its 500 Ktpa Taizhou Project, Asia’s largest operational coal power CCUS facility, noting success has come not only from a newly developed capture solvent, but also from close coordination with downstream users capable of utilising large volumes of captured CO₂. In the oil & gas sector, state-owned enterprises are exploring integrated hubs through various arrangements. For example, CNOOC is collaborating with multi-national companies to develop an offshore storage hub in Guangdong Province, one of China’s most industrialised regions.
Private Sector Involvement
Private sector engagement is helping to drive technological innovation in CCUS. Notable examples include Tencent’s CarbonX 2.0 and ArcelorMittal’s XCarb® China Accelerator, both reflecting a growing trend of private investment in the sector. In a milestone for risk management, China’s first CCUS-specific insurance policy, issued by the People’s Insurance Company of China for the Jurong Power Plant project, highlights how financial instruments are being tailored to support the sector’s unique requirements.
Conclusion
The 2025 Shanghai CCUS Technology Forum successfully brought together industry leaders, innovators, and global stakeholders to share the latest developments and explore emerging business opportunities. The Global CCS Institute will continue to organise events like this to foster cross-sector engagement and collaboration in China.
