Top 7 China Carbon Capture Companies 2025
China's carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) industry has entered a rapid growth phase in 2025, driven by the dual carbon goals of peaking emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. The country operates over 40 CCUS pilot projects with total capture capacity exceeding 10 million tonnes CO2 per year. Major energy companies and specialized startups are deploying CCUS across power generation, steel, cement, and chemical industries.
TL;DR: China's CCUS industry reaches 10M tonnes CO2/year capture capacity across 40+ pilot projects. Sinopec leads with Qilu CCUS hub capturing 1M tonnes/year while CERI provides key engineering design for 15+ domestic CCUS projects.
Top Companies
Sinopec (中国石化)
1M tonnes CO2/year captureSinopec operates China's largest CCUS project at its Qilu refinery in Shandong, capturing 1 million tonnes of CO2 annually for enhanced oil recovery. The company has announced plans for 10 additional CCUS hubs across China, targeting 5 million tonnes/year total capture capacity by 2030.
CERI (中石化石油工程技术研究院)
15+ CCUS projects designedCERI is China's leading CCUS engineering design institute, providing technology solutions for carbon capture, transport, and storage. It has designed 15+ CCUS projects including Sinopec's flagship Qilu hub, with expertise in solvent-based capture, pipeline transport, and saline aquifer storage.
China Energy Investment (国家能源集团)
200kt CO2/year coal captureChina Energy Investment Corporation operates multiple CCUS demonstrations at coal-fired power plants, with the Guohua Jinjie project capturing 200,000 tonnes CO2/year. The company integrates CCUS with coal gasification and chemical production, achieving valuable carbon utilization pathways.
Shanghai Jiao Tong University CCUS Center
Academic research leaderSJTU's CCUS research center leads academic R&D in advanced capture materials including metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), membranes, and direct air capture (DAC). It partners with industry on 10+ pilot projects and has spun out multiple CCUS technology startups.
Qihang Energy (启航能源)
Industrial CCUS solutionsQihang Energy specializes in industrial CCUS solutions for cement, steel, and chemical plants. Its modular capture units can be deployed at emission sources as small as 50,000 tonnes CO2/year, with solvent-based capture technology achieving 90%+ capture efficiency.
CarbonUp (碳捕科技)
Biocarbon utilizationCarbonUp develops biochar-based carbon utilization technology, converting captured CO2 into valuable products including building materials, soil amendments, and industrial chemicals. Its carbon utilization pathway achieves permanent sequestration while generating revenue from byproducts.
Jinneng Holding (晋能控股)
Coal-to-chemicals CCUSJinneng Holding operates CCUS projects in Shanxi province's coal-chemical industry, capturing CO2 from coal gasification and converting it to methanol, urea, and other chemicals. This coal-to-chemicals CCUS approach achieves both emission reduction and economic value creation.
Comparison Table
| Company | Capture Method | Capacity | Industry Focus | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sinopec | Post-combustion amine | 1Mt/year | Refining, EOR | Commercial |
| China Energy | Pre-combustion | 200kt/year | Power generation | Demonstration |
| CERI | Various | Design only | Multi-industry | Engineering |
| Qihang Energy | Modular solvent | 50-500kt/year | Cement, steel | Commercial |
| CarbonUp | Biocarbon | Pilot scale | Utilization | Pilot |
| Jinneng Holding | Gasification capture | 100kt/year | Coal-chemical | Commercial |
| SJTU Center | MOFs, membranes | Lab-pilot | R&D | Research |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is China's CCUS capacity target?
China aims to capture 30 million tonnes CO2/year by 2030 and 300 million tonnes/year by 2060. The current installed capacity is approximately 10 million tonnes/year across 40+ projects, requiring 10x scale-up to meet 2030 targets.
How does China fund CCUS projects?
China's CCUS projects receive funding through multiple channels: central government carbon neutrality grants (RMB 50B+ allocated), provincial subsidies for low-carbon technology, carbon market revenue (China's ETS price at RMB 90-100/tonne), and corporate investment from energy companies. The national carbon market provides increasing economic incentive as prices rise.
Where is captured CO2 stored in China?
China's primary CO2 storage sites include saline aquifers in the Ordos Basin (largest storage resource), depleted oil and gas reservoirs in the Bohai Bay and Songliao Basins, and deep coal seams for ECBM (enhanced coal bed methane). Total theoretical storage capacity exceeds 300 billion tonnes across major sedimentary basins.
What CCUS technologies is China developing?
China is advancing multiple CCUS technology pathways: amine-based post-combustion capture (commercial), membrane separation (pilot), direct air capture (R&D), bioenergy with CCS (BECCS), ocean-based CO2 storage (research), and mineralization into construction materials. The government's CCUS technology roadmap prioritizes cost reduction from RMB 400-600/tonne to RMB 200-300/tonne by 2035.
What role does China play in global carbon capture partnerships?
China participates in the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum and has bilateral carbon capture agreements with the US, EU, and Australia. Chinese companies are investing in CCS projects along the Belt and Road, particularly in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, exporting capture technology and operational expertise.