Carbon Management: Why it is so important for industrial transformation to transport, utilise and store CO₂ efficiently

2 July 2026

Carbon management is a broad field. It ranges from the capture to the storage of unavoidable carbon dioxide. A key aspect is the question of how CO₂ can be efficiently transported, utilised or stored. Niklas Skotorzick, a carbon management expert at the TÜV NORD GROUP’s HydroHub, explains in an interview why this plays a central role in practical implementation.

TÜV NORD: Mr Skotorzick, why is carbon management becoming so much more important at the moment?

Niklas Skotorzick: Carbon management is currently becoming so much more important because, despite efficiency improvements and electrification, many industries in Germany continue to generate large quantities of CO₂ emissions that are considered unavoidable, particularly in sectors such as cement, steel and chemicals. At the same time, regulatory pressure is mounting, for example through climate targets and CO₂ pricing. This is bringing into focus technologies and measures that enable CO₂ to be reused (Carbon Capture and Utilisation, CCU) or stored (Carbon Capture and Storage, CCS). This can help to systematically address residual emissions and thereby close carbon cycles – or even remove CO₂ from the cycle entirely by storing it underground.

TÜV NORD: What role does infrastructure play in projects aimed at utilising or storing CO₂?

Niklas Skotorzick: A central one. Capture is often only the first step; what matters is how CO₂ is transported safely and cost-effectively to a utilisation or storage site. Transport pipelines, transhipment points, storage sites and proximity to industrial clusters have a significant impact on costs. Site selection has a major impact on cost-effectiveness. Shorter transport routes and shared infrastructure can make projects significantly more efficient. Where several companies share infrastructure, investments can be spread more effectively and expansion phases can be implemented more easily.

TÜV NORD: Does this also work with cross-border transport networks in Europe?

Niklas Skotorzick: Cross-border CO₂ transport is particularly challenging because technical and regulatory systems need to be compatible. Uniform standards are required, for example regarding CO₂ purity, pressure levels and safety requirements. At the same time, permits, liability issues and responsibilities differ from country to country. If CO₂ is to be transported across borders, the rules must be better harmonised – this is where policymakers need to take action! Only then can carbon management be reliably planned on an industrial scale.

TÜV NORD: What opportunities does the use of CO₂ offer within existing carbon management structures?

Niklas Skotorzick: CCU opens up the possibility of reusing captured CO₂ as a raw material, for example in the chemical industry or for synthetic fuels. This can lead to the creation of new, resilient value chains and enable carbon cycles to be closed more effectively. However, not every use is automatically beneficial for the climate. The key factors are how long the carbon remains sequestered and how much energy is required. That is why every application must be assessed within the context of the overall system.

TÜV NORD: What does this mean for companies currently engaged in carbon management?

Niklas Skotorzick: Companies should clarify at an early stage which transport routes, utilisation or storage options are available regionally – or will be in the future – and which regulatory requirements apply. Only when infrastructure, permits and business models align can CCS or CCU projects be planned in a viable manner.