The German project investigated the technical feasibility and performance of a comprehensive carbon‑capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) and hydrogen infrastructure for key industrial sectors, with a particular focus on the steel, cement and glass industries. The research combined laboratory experiments, pilot‑scale demonstrations and modelling to quantify capture efficiencies, storage integrity and process integration. In the cement sector, a comparative techno‑economic analysis of capture options in existing plants showed that post‑combustion capture using amine solvents can achieve a removal rate of up to 90 % of CO₂ emissions, while oxy‑fuel combustion can reach similar levels with a slightly higher energy penalty. The study also demonstrated that the captured CO₂ can be liquefied and transported via existing natural‑gas pipelines, with a projected cost of €30–35 per tonne for a 1.5 Mt yr transport route, in line with the Northern Lights 2021 annual report. In the steel sector, the project evaluated hydrogen injection into blast furnaces as a means to replace a portion of the fossil‑fuel‑derived reducing gas. Experimental runs with 10 % hydrogen in the gas mix showed a 5 % reduction in CO₂ emissions per tonne of steel, while maintaining product quality within specification. The research highlighted that higher hydrogen fractions (>30 %) require modifications to furnace linings and burner geometry to mitigate increased flame temperatures and NOx formation, suggesting a phased implementation strategy. In the glass industry, pilot tests of pure hydrogen combustion in melting furnaces revealed that the glass quality could be preserved with minor adjustments to the furnace atmosphere and the use of hydrogen‑tolerant refractory materials. The tests confirmed that the energy consumption for hydrogen production via electrolysis can be offset by the lower primary energy demand compared to synthetic methane, offering a net reduction in CO₂ emissions.

The project also addressed the integrity of underground storage sites. Microbial studies in salt caverns indicated that high‑salinity conditions suppress hydrogen‑consuming sulfate‑reducing bacteria, leading to a stable pH environment and minimal risk of gas leakage. Modelling of a 1.5 Mt yr CO₂ injection scenario into a salt cavern demonstrated a pressure increase of 0.5 MPa over five years, well below the structural limits of the formation, and a negligible migration risk over a 100‑year horizon. The integration of hydrogen storage with CO₂ capture was explored through a simulation of a shared pipeline network, showing that co‑transport is feasible with appropriate pressure management and that the combined infrastructure can reduce overall capital expenditure by 15 % compared to separate systems.

Collaboration was a cornerstone of the project. The consortium comprised leading research institutions such as Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, TU Berlin, the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), and the German Association of the Construction Industry (DVGW). Industrial partners included a major cement producer, a steelworks operator, and a glass manufacturer, each providing pilot sites and operational data. The project was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy under the national climate neutrality strategy, with additional support from the European Union Horizon 2020 programme. The research spanned from 2021 to 2025, culminating in a series of peer‑reviewed publications and a policy brief that outlines the technical pathways and investment requirements for scaling up CCUS and hydrogen infrastructure across Germany’s industrial landscape.