From Plans Towards Delivery
Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) is moving from plans towards delivery in several markets. New projects are reaching investment decisions, construction is under way, and infrastructure is being developed to connect industrial emitters with carbon transport and storage.
But the opportunity needs to be viewed clearly. A project appearing on a pipeline list does not mean it is funded, under construction or recruiting. For candidates and recruiters, the important question is not just how many projects have been announced, but which ones are reaching firm delivery milestones.
A Growing Market, With Important Caveats
The International Energy Agency reports that investment in CCUS projects rose to more than US$5 billion in 2025, more than 15 times the 2020 level. It also reports that more than 30 projects reached final investment decisions over the past two years.
That is meaningful progress. However, the IEA estimates that around 90% of projects announced for 2035 have not yet reached a final investment decision. Delays, cancellations and uncertainty around financing remain part of the market. The gap between an announced project and a funded project matters when assessing future hiring.
Where Activity Is Becoming More Tangible
Norway’s Longship project offers a live example of the full value chain: capturing CO₂ at industrial sites, transporting it by ship and storing it beneath the seabed through Northern Lights. According to the Norwegian government, two of the three project elements were operating in 2025, and approximately 150,000 tonnes of CO₂ had been captured and permanently stored by the end of July 2026.
In the UK, the government-backed East Coast Cluster and HyNet networks have also reached financial close. These milestones provide firmer evidence of development than an early-stage announcement, although work and hiring will still depend on individual project packages and schedules.
What Kinds of Roles Could Be Involved?
CCUS links several parts of the energy and industrial value chain. Depending on the project, capability needs could include:
- Capture: process, mechanical, electrical and instrumentation engineering; plant modifications; commissioning and operations
- Transport: pipeline engineering, terminal operations, vessel logistics and materials handling
- Storage: subsurface engineering, wells, subsea systems, reservoir monitoring and integrity management
- Project delivery: construction, fabrication, quality control, project controls, procurement and health and safety
These are potential capability areas, not a list of confirmed vacancies. The balance of roles will vary between an industrial capture plant, a pipeline network, a shipping terminal and an offshore storage site.
Can Oil and Gas Experience Transfer?
Some skills from offshore oil and gas may be relevant, particularly in project delivery, process systems, pipelines, subsea operations, wells, commissioning, inspection and maintenance. That does not mean every oil and gas role transfers directly. Candidates will need to show how their experience matches the specific equipment, standards and operating environment involved.
A strong CV should explain the work you personally carried out: the systems or equipment involved, the stage of the project, your responsibilities, and relevant qualifications or safety tickets. Recruiters should assess those details rather than relying on job titles alone.
What Recruiters and Candidates Should Watch Next
The best indicators of real demand are project-specific: final investment decisions, financial close, construction starts, awarded contracts, procurement notices and named delivery partners. Those signals help distinguish current work from longer-term potential.
For candidates, following projects by region and stage can help focus job searches. For recruiters, building a picture of the likely skills by project package can support better conversations with both employers and candidates.
CCUS is developing into a real project market, but progress is uneven. The opportunity is clearest where funding, infrastructure and contracts are coming together. Track those milestones, and you will get a more reliable view of where the work may be.
Further Reading
Useful public sources for current CCUS project and policy context include:
- IEA: Financing CCUS at Scale
- IEA: Policy and financing momentum sustain CCUS progress despite setbacks
- Norwegian Government: 2027 budget proposal
- UK Government: CCUS programme