September 11, 2026 [Storage Terminals Magazine]- Plans to develop Germany’s first operational CO₂ export terminal have moved into their next phase following approval of the CarbonBridge joint venture by the European Commission.

The approval marks an important step for the partnership between Messer and Ambrian Energy GmbH, which is focused on developing infrastructure to support the recovery, processing and transportation of carbon dioxide (CO₂) captured from industrial sources.

Following the European Commission’s decision, senior representatives from the two companies met at the future terminal site in Bremen to discuss the next stages of the project. Messer CEO Peter Mohnen and Messer COO Europe Matthias Thiele met with Daniel Pätzold, managing director of Ambrian Energy GmbH, at the site where the planned terminal is expected to be developed.

The discussions centred on the formal establishment of the joint venture, upcoming project milestones and the execution roadmap required to move CarbonBridge from development into implementation.

The planned Bremen facility is intended to form part of the infrastructure required to transport captured CO₂ from industrial emitters to permanent storage locations. By providing an export point for processed CO₂, the terminal could play a role in connecting industrial carbon-capture projects with downstream carbon storage infrastructure.

CarbonBridge brings together the respective expertise of Messer and Ambrian Energy in areas including CO₂ recovery, processing and logistics. The partnership is aimed at addressing one of the key infrastructure requirements associated with carbon capture and storage: moving captured CO₂ safely and efficiently from industrial facilities to locations where it can be permanently stored.

The latest milestone comes as Germany and the broader European industrial sector continue to develop carbon management infrastructure. For industries where eliminating all emissions may be technically difficult, carbon capture, transport and permanent storage are increasingly being considered as components of broader decarbonisation strategies.

With the joint venture now approved, attention turns to the practical steps required to advance the Bremen project. These include formal company formation, detailed project execution and the achievement of further development milestones.

The meeting at the future terminal site provided an opportunity for the project partners to align on these next steps and the roadmap ahead. The development of the Bremen facility represents an ambitious infrastructure undertaking, with its progress expected to be closely watched as Germany expands its CO₂ management capabilities.

For CarbonBridge, the European Commission approval represents the completion of an important first milestone. The focus now shifts towards translating the partnership’s plans into the infrastructure needed to support the future transport and permanent storage of captured CO₂.