CCS+
CCS+ Initiative: carbon capture and storage methodologies for carbon markets
What is the CCS+ initiative?
A coalition developing robust carbon-market methodologies for carbon capture, storage and utilisation technologies, so high-integrity crediting can support their scale-up.
Overview
This private-sector initiative develops carbon accounting methodologies for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) in all its forms (+), where the storage of CO2 can be either geological or in long-term products. The aim is a high-quality accounting infrastructure under which emission reductions and removals from carbon capture, utilisation, removal and storage can be certified and credited, so those solutions can scale worldwide towards net zero.
The CCS+ initiative gathers over 50 stakeholders (technology providers, energy companies, research institutes, carbon consultants, other interested organisations and multiple independent carbon crediting programmes) to develop that accounting infrastructure for CCS, CCU and tech CDR solutions.
What this initiative works towards
Credible quantification
Methodologies that quantify captured and stored CO2 conservatively, with reversal risk addressed head-on.
Technology-neutral
Addresses multiple capture routes and storage types; all are of equal importance.
Market readiness
Move CCS/CCU from pilot accounting to creditable, investable activities under recognised crediting programmes.
Background & rationale
The CCS+ Initiative is a global multi-stakeholder alliance developing technology-agnostic carbon accounting methodologies with the aim of becoming the standard in voluntary and compliance carbon markets. The methodological framework can be used for carbon crediting in the voluntary carbon market, in compliance market mechanisms, or both. The work draws on industry expertise and is scrutinised by a Steering Committee and an Advisory Group, held to the highest standards of environmental integrity. The CCS+ Initiative accounts for emission reduction and carbon dioxide removal impacts separately. The methodology has been adopted by Verra, and the Initiative has memoranda of understanding with Puro.earth and GCC for integration into their programmes.
Unlocking revenues through the voluntary carbon market
A plug-and-play approach for project developers.
Facilitating the uptake to compliance markets
Guidance for EU, Article 6 and US emissions accounting and reporting schemes, with methodologies tested alongside Dutch project developers.
Key publications
- 2024 VM0049: Carbon Capture and Storage Verra methodology with modules VMD0056, VMD0057 and VMD0058; module VMD0059 and tools VT0012 and VT0013 were added in 2025
- 2024 US guide to an integrated carbon accounting infrastructure for the industrial carbon management market
- 2023 Article 6 guide to an integrated carbon accounting infrastructure for the industrial carbon management market
- 2023 EU guide to an integrated carbon accounting infrastructure for the industrial carbon management market
Climate action, in practice