Carbon capture, removal and storage

Switzerland must achieve its net-zero climate target by 2050. First and foremost, this means reducing greenhouse gas emissions such as CO2. Not all greenhouse gas emissions can be avoided entirely. That is why additional technologies are needed to capture or remove CO2 and store it permanently. These technologies are not yet widely available. The FOEN works to ensure that these technologies are developed and that suitable framework conditions for their use are in place.

Switzerland must capture or remove carbon and store it if it is to achieve its climate targets. There are two types of technology to do this: those which capture and store CO₂ produced by burning fossil fuels or from industrial processes directly, thereby reducing emissions (carbon capture and storage, CCS); and negative emission technologies (NETs), which permanently remove carbon from the atmosphere. These technologies are needed to address greenhouse gas emissions that are difficult to avoid, such as those from cement production, waste incineration, agriculture and aviation.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is key

The Climate and Innovation Act (CIA) sets the goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and a net-negative balance after 2050. It defines greenhouse gas reduction paths for the buildings, transport and industrial sector. Companies must achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 at the latest, and the Federal Administration by 2040. These goals can only be reducing greenhouse gas emissions as much as possible. To deal with the remaining, hard-to-avoid emissions, the deployment of CCS and NETs must be greatly expanded.

A two-stage process for the expansion

In its report of May 2022, the Federal Council envisages a two-stage process for the expansion of CCS and NETs: a pioneering phase up to 2030 and a targeted scaling-up phase up to 2050. The current legal framework, in particular the revised CO₂ Act (post-2024) and the CIA, essentially provides a suitable environment for the pioneering phase, in which the first large-scale CCS and NET applications will be set up. As yet there is no legal framework for the second phase, in which CCS must be scaled up at all larger Swiss plants by 2050 and significant amounts of negative emissions must be achieved. For example, national legislation does not yet exist regarding the infrastructure for the transport or underground storage of CO₂.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) and negative emission technologies (NETs) (PDF, 509 kB, 18.05.2022)

Technologies

CCS and NET solutions have already been developed. Plans for CCS, for example at cement plants or waste incineration plants, are well advanced in Europe. NETs may be plant-based (e.g. wood utilisation) or technology-based (e.g. direct air filters for CO2). However, the solutions are not yet available on the scale required to protect the climate.

Legislation

According to Switzerland's long-term climate strategy an estimated 12 million tonnes of CO2 must be stored with CCS and NETs annually by 2050, which is almost 30% of Switzerland's current greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the Federal Council estimates that international aviation will require up to 2 million tonnes of negative emissions per year in 2050. The relevant legislation and incentives are continuously developed in order to encourage the expansion of these necessary technologies.

National cooperation

Strong cooperation between the federal government, cantons, communes, private sector and other stakeholders is essential if CCS and NETs are to be expanded rapidly. The FOEN has set up a national working group for this purpose.

International cooperation

As there is limited potential for storing CO2 domestically, cooperation with other countries is crucial to export the gas to foreign underground storage facilities or to procure negative emissions from abroad.