The COREu project, one of the largest research and innovation initiatives for carbon capture and storage (CCS) ever funded under the Horizon Europe programme, is making significant strides in demonstrating key enabling technologies within a CCS chain. With a focus on developing CO₂ transport and storage infrastructure, the project involves 43 partners across Europe and aims to accelerate the deployment of CCS technologies by addressing technical, financial, regulatory, and coordination challenges. COREu's ultimate goal is to contribute significantly to reducing CO₂ emissions, supporting the EU's climate neutrality targets. Through the development of new CCS routes in Central-East Europe and the creation of clusters of emitters, COREu is building a trans-national network that connects CO₂ sources with storage sites. This collaborative effort enhances knowledge sharing and fosters a common framework for CCS deployment, encompassing technological expertise, business models, consensus management, and safety protocols.

Within the COREu project, sampling campaigns are planned to take place in several regions across Europe: in Prinos/Kavala, Greece where the test of the injection will take place, in South Moravia, Czech Republic, in the Baltic Sea/Gdansk, Poland, and in Western Ukraine. These sampling campaigns are conducted to gather essential data for understanding and validating the environmental and geological conditions, which is necessary to ensure effective and safe CO₂ storage. They involve meticulous collection and analysis of samples from various locations, providing critical insights into the natural variability of the sites where CO₂ injection will take place.

For the environmental monitoring campaign in Prinos, two of the four planned sampling campaigns have been completed: the fall cruise in November 2024 and the winter/spring campaign in March 2025. The COREu team embarked on "Filia," a vessel from the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, with the aim of defining the natural physical-chemical-biological conditions of the marine environment above the Prinos Oil Field, prior to CO2 injection. Dr. Stan Beaubien from Sapienza University of Rome, a key member of the research team, explained the importance of these efforts: "Within the COREu project, various research groups across Europe are collecting samples in the area above where the CO₂ injection will take place and in other areas of the Gulf of Kavala. This is crucial to define the natural variability of the site. The chemistry related to CO₂ changes naturally due to biological systems, interacting with seasons, temperature, light, and storms that mix the water. To safely monitor the site when CO₂ is eventually injected, we must understand the natural CO₂ concentrations and biological systems for comparison with measurements taken after injection starts." Dr. Paschalia Kiomourtzi, Energean's Subsurface lead in Greece, added, "These measurements will be used as a baseline study, forming part of our Measurement Monitoring Verification plan for the CO₂ storage project. The survey will also provide critical data and information for safe and effective CO₂ sequestration. This is combined effort between scientists from Norway, Greece and Italy. We are all excited; everything went great!" Dr. Ingebrigt Uglem, from the Norwegian Institute of Nature Research, shared his experience: "We have been here collecting water and sediment samples for E-DNA analysis to map the biodiversity in the area." The use of e-DNA analysis within COREu marks the first time this innovative method is applied in the context of a CCS project - a significant milestone that underscores the project's commitment to pioneering advanced, science-based approaches for environmental monitoring and impact assessment.

A Project of National Importance

Andreas Georgakopoulos, Emeritus Professor of Fossil Fuels at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, highlighted the project's significance: "This is a very important project for Greece's national economy, employment, and environmental purposes. It should be supported by local communities and at every level."

The COREu team has conducted a field campaign in late winter in South Moravia, Czech Republic, which included soil-gas monitoring and VOCs above a depleted oil and gas field. In Poland, there is an ongoing monitoring plan for the Baltic Sea CCS scenarios, as well as long-term measurements of the CO₂ content of soil air. In Ukraine, two regional field campaigns were conducted during the summer of 2024 to define natural soil-gas geochemistry. The research conducted at all of these sites will aid in defining the natural geochemical conditions occurring in the near surface environment, creating baseline datasets and developing protocols that will ensure effective site monitoring and safety.

The COREu project is not only advancing the scientific understanding of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies but also fostering collaboration across Europe to address the pressing challenges of climate change. By developing new CCS routes and conducting comprehensive field campaigns, COREu is laying the groundwork for a sustainable, low-carbon future. The project's efforts in environmental monitoring and data collection are crucial for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of CO₂ storage, while its collaborative approach is enhancing knowledge sharing and building a robust framework for CCS deployment. As COREu continues to make significant strides, it is driving Europe closer to achieving its ambitious climate goals, supported by the invaluable contributions of its diverse consortium of partners and the essential funding from the Horizon Europe programme.