IEF Roundtable on Building Carbon Management and Hydrogen Markets

IEF governments, industry leaders, and innovators must turn ambitious pledges into reality to create the carbon management and hydrogen markets they envision. Dialogue on policy frameworks, incentives, innovation, and data must be at the very heart of attracting the investment needed to scale these pivotal transition technologies across global energy markets.

The IEF Roundtable on Building Carbon Management and Hydrogen Markets invites IEF government and industry thought leaders to take stock and reinforce pathways for the affordable, secure, and sustainable deployment of carbon and hydrogen value chains. Building on recent IEF dialogue findings on "Hydrogen Market Pathways" and "Building Markets to Scale Carbon Management Solutions" the roundtable can help accelerate market momentum considering outcomes of the recently convened IEF-EU Energy and Climate Day, and IEF Industry Advisory Council.

Since the IEF published its seminal Report on Strategies to Scale Carbon Capture use and Storage in 2021, urging governments to Greenlight CCUS “to achieve climate goals without losing sight of energy market stability and affordability” its findings resonate even more with current market realities that place energy security and affordable energy access center stage.

The benefit of far greater government support is reflected in a substantial proliferation of carbon management projects, start-ups, and patents announced after 2020, concentrated in North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Capacity may reach 1Gt of CO₂ of annual removals by 2030 in line with the Carbon Management Challenge agreed at COP28 in 2023.

Hydrogen ecosystems are also advancing, supported by record public and private investment, innovation, and the emergence of cross-sectoral value chains. Successful first movers and dedicated clusters—notably in the GCC North-West Europe, Asia and the US—demonstrate the potential of Circular Carbon Economy frameworks and clean hydrogen to match deep decarbonization with energy security and affordability energy access goals.

Yet, these clean technology breakthroughs spearheaded by governments and incumbents remain exposed to persistent market gaps, cost and regulatory hurdles and other challenges. Investment activity lags global ambition, with carbon markets and hydrogen trade still embryonic and hampered by fragmented policies, underdeveloped data ecosystems, high capture and capital costs, supply chain bottlenecks, and underwhelming demand signals when compared to announced policy ambitions.

As global energy demand soars and governments struggle to balance near-term energy security, affordability, and competitiveness with long-term goals, the need for concerted action has become even more pressing. Building global carbon management and hydrogen markets that attract the private sector investment and capital market support they need to thrive on their own momentum will help ease fiscal constraints and reduce the cost of clean and reliable energy for consumers.

Objectives

The roundtable will focus on the policy frameworks, regulatory incentives, technology innovations and data requirements that will support the accelerated roll out of carbon management and hydrogen value chains. Dialogue on the policy, technology, and data enablers needed to push market development forward will be structured in four sessions:

1. Carbon Management and Hydrogen Market Advances – Policy & Industry Signposts
   Cohesive policy and regulatory frameworks that reduce barriers for private capital and technology deployment.
2. Innovation and Technology Readiness – Building Scale & Patenting Breakthroughs
   Foster high-integrity state-of-the-art carbon management and hydrogen value chains; evolving business models and technologies that deliver on affordability, reliability, and sustainability.
3. Market Transparency – Data for Financing and Investment
   Leverage transparent, accessible data to facilitate and underpin investment decisions, scale up innovation, and mitigate risks across markets and industries.
4. Driving Global Collaboration
   Concluding remarks to summarize shared insights and help align efforts among all stakeholders.

Convening government policymakers, industry leaders, innovators, and experts from IEF’s global network, the Roundtable provides a unique platform to bridge perspectives and shape collective solutions to build new markets. Held under the Chatham House Rule, alongside the concurrent IEF Seminar on Energy Market Transparency, both meetings will further assist to uncover synergies and amplify the efforts of all invited IEF stakeholders and guests.

Key Questions

1. What policy frameworks have proven most effective at enabling carbon and hydrogen market growth?
2. How can existing regulatory incentive models be scaled or adapted for global markets?
3. What lessons can be drawn from leaders in CCUS and hydrogen deployment?
4. How can we ensure integration of energy security, affordability, and decarbonization in carbon management and hydrogen market-building?
5. What are the most promising technological breakthroughs in CCUS and hydrogen?
6. How can pathways to scale be accelerated beyond isolated FOAK projects to replication and clusters?
7. What role do startups and industrial clusters play in de-risking innovation?
8. How can venture capital, industry, and public-private partnerships drive early-stage and large-scale deployment?
9. How can market and regulatory data be improved to support private investment?
10. What are the best practices in measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) for CCUS and hydrogen, and how can these be standardized?
11. What data gaps impede the development of carbon and hydrogen markets today?
12. How can JODI, the IEF, and partner organizations enable greater market transparency?