US CCUS sector weighs risks and rewards

Many projects look attractive on paper but come with multiple risks for financiers and developers, say speakers at Washington forum

Recent enhancements to the 45Q tax credit regime have transformed the economics of CCUS in the US, but the reality on the ground remains one of multiple risks and complex business models as project financiers and industrial emitters attempt to deploy the technology at scale. The Inflation Reduction Act raises the potential level of 45Q tax credits available to CCUS projects to up to $85/t of CO₂ from up to $50/t previously. It also extends the construction start date deadline for qualifying projects from January 2026 to January 2033 and allows tax credits to be paid directly in cash. “The Gulf Coast in particular, where you have the opportunity to build large-scale hubs very close to e