Network of National CCUS Centers of Excellence
In 2025, the Gulf Coast Carbon Center (GCCC) and IEAGHG launched the Network of National CCUS Centers of Excellence (NNCCE) to connect national institutions in the Global South; strengthen carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) capacity; and improve access to technology transfer and climate finance mechanisms such as the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
The NNCCE addresses shared barriers, like financing, data access, and regulatory gaps, through regular dialogue, peer collaboration, and coordinated advocacy to accelerate deployment and south-south cooperation. Please contact Research Professor Katherine Romanak to learn more.
Official Launch of the Network of National CCUS Centers of Excellence
Date: 30 July 2025 | Format: Virtual (MS Teams)
The first meeting of the Network of National CCUS Centers of Excellence (NNCCE) brought together over 20 representatives from national CCUS institutions across the Global South. The NNCCE is co-led by the IEAGHG and the Gulf Coast Carbon Center (GCCC) and builds on decades of work within the UNFCCC framework to raise awareness among countries about their CCS potential, facilitate technology transfer, and guide countries in accessing climate finance mechanisms such as the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
The idea for NNCCE gained traction following an exploratory meeting in 2024 at the International CCS Knowledge Centre in Regina, Canada, which confirmed strong interest in creating a member-led platform for peer-to-peer collaboration, capacity building, and joint action.
Participants included representatives from:
- Trinidad and Tobago – University of Trinidad and Tobago, University of the West Indies
- Indonesia – Indonesia CCS Center and the Institut Teknologi Bandung
- India – Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay)
- South Africa – Council for Geoscience
- China – Northwest University
- Morocco – University Mohammed VI Polytechnic
- Colombia – Ecopetrol
- International – International Finance Corporation (IFC), IEAGHG, GCCC, International CCS Knowledge Centre
Key discussion points from the meeting included several shared challenges, such as limited and inconsistent funding—especially after initial multilateral support ends—restricted access to subsurface data due to confidentiality or ownership issues, gaps in permitting frameworks and unclear regulatory processes, and land use or zoning constraints for potential storage sites. Despite these barriers, members reported notable progress, including the development of national CO₂ storage atlases, pilot injection projects, new laboratory facilities, and stronger academic–industry partnerships.
The IFC shared perspectives on improving project “bankability,” stressing the importance of credible sponsorship, early industry engagement, and strong technical baselines, while also noting potential pathways for concessional financing through the Climate Investment Fund (CIF).
As next steps, the network adopted its official name, Network of National CCUS Centers of Excellence (NNCCE), and agreed to reconvene in late 2025 or early 2026 to set technical and policy priorities. In the meantime, members may pursue targeted workshops, exchanges, and collaborative tool development to address shared needs. The meeting reaffirmed that while national contexts differ, many challenges are common—and that regular dialogue, shared expertise, and coordinated advocacy can help accelerate CCS deployment across the Global South.
Members from multiple countries met at the International CCS Knowledge Centre in Regina Canada in October 2024 to discuss the potential for a South-South network. The outpouring was very positive, easing to the official launch event in July 2025.
Last Updated: August 15, 2025
