Carbon capture and storage, or CCS, removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere produced by industrial processes or captures it at the point of emission and stores it underground.

In Germany, its use has been restricted under a law passed in 2012 that gave federal states the power to veto its use. But as Europe’s largest CO2 polluter is likely to miss its goal of producing net zero emissions by 2045, Berlin has reconsidered CCS.

Under the new law changes, transportation of CO2 and its storage in sub-seabed will be allowed, Habeck added.

“The technology is safe,” the minister told a news conference presenting the government’s carbon management strategy.