Introduction

As Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) continues to evolve across Europe, the conversation is shifting from innovation to implementation.
The technology is proven - but the success of this new phase will depend on one thing: the ability to deploy people and expertise across borders efficiently, safely, and compliantly.
For organisations investing in CCS, that challenge is now front and centre.

CCS Is a Cross-Border Industry - and So Is Its Workforce

CCS projects rarely stay within one country’s borders. A single development might include:

  • Capture facilities located near industrial clusters in Western Europe
  • Transport infrastructure crossing national boundaries
  • Storage reservoirs situated offshore
     

According to the BMI Western Europe Oil & Gas Insight (July 2025), regional CCS capacity is projected to grow significantly by 2030 - with storage potential increasing from 1.5 million to over 5 million tonnes of CO₂ annually.
New transport networks and regional storage hubs are also emerging to connect heavy industry with offshore sequestration (BMI Western Europe Oil & Gas Insight, August 2025).
 

This expanding network highlights how CCS is no longer a local or sector-specific challenge - it’s a collaborative, international effort requiring skilled professionals who can move seamlessly between markets.
 

The Compliance Challenge: Keeping Pace with Expansion

As projects expand across jurisdictions, the regulatory and compliance landscape becomes increasingly complex.
From tax and social security to HSE standards and immigration law, the rules governing international project delivery are tightening - particularly as CCS shifts away from Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) toward long-term carbon storage.


According to BMI Carbon Capture and Storage in Focus Part 2 (Fitch Solutions, Dec 2023), over 92% of planned global CCS capacity will be for permanent CO₂ storage, not EOR.


This shift brings greater scrutiny and increases the need for consistent environmental and regulatory compliance.
At the same time, CCS investment is diversifying. While oil and gas companies still account for just over half of planned capacity, new investors from power generation, cement, and fertilisers are rapidly entering the space - bringing different regulatory standards and workforce requirements (BMI Carbon Capture and Storage in Focus Part 2, 2023).


For these multi-sector projects, compliance is not an afterthought - it’s a strategic advantage. Organisations need partners who can manage mobility and compliance at scale, across multiple legal frameworks.
 

Global Mobility: Getting the Right People to the Right Projects

The EIC Europe OPEX Report 2025 found that 62% of operators cite workforce shortages as the top risk to project execution, while 44% expect rising OPEX directly linked to workforce constraints.


These figures reflect not only a lack of available talent, but also the growing difficulty of deploying that talent compliantly across borders.
 

This is where Brunel makes the difference.
 

Across the CCS lifecycle, Brunel provides:

  • Specialist recruitment of engineering, HSE, and project management professionals
  • End-to-end global mobility - from visa and work permit processing to tax, payroll, and relocation support
  • In-country compliance assurance, ensuring alignment with local legislation and ESG requirements
  • Workforce scaling to support rapid growth during key project phases
     

Brunel’s global network and local expertise enable clients to access and mobilise the right skills at the right time - safely, efficiently, and fully compliant with local and international regulations.
 

From Conventional Energy to CCS: A Workforce Evolution

The BMI Western Europe Oil & Gas Insight (Aug 2025) highlights how structural changes in conventional energy - including refinery closures and reduced diesel demand - are reshaping the workforce and freeing up technical expertise for redeployment into CCS.
Meanwhile, the BMI Europe Power & Renewables Insight (Aug 2025) notes that low-carbon power expansion is creating new integration points for CCS, particularly around gas-fired generation and industrial heat.
 

This convergence between oil, gas, and power sectors is redefining workforce mobility across Europe. Engineers, operators, and project managers are no longer tied to a single energy discipline - they’re becoming transitional specialists capable of moving between sectors and countries to support decarbonisation.
 

Brunel: Making the Movement of People as Efficient as the Movement of Carbon

As CCS matures, mobility and compliance will determine whether projects can scale as planned.
 

At Brunel, we bring together:

Recruitment expertise across engineering, HSE, and project delivery
Global mobility services that simplify cross-border moves
Compliance management that protects projects from regulatory risk
Scalable workforce solutions that adapt to every project phase
 

By combining global reach with local compliance knowledge, Brunel enables clients to deliver complex CCS projects safely, legally, and on time - anywhere in the world.
 

Looking for workforce or mobility support for your CCS project? Let’s connect.

Share this article