Carbon Capture Amine Solvents Market Growth Insights

Carbon capture amine solvents market to reach $1 billion by 2036

The market for carbon capture amine solvents is set to more than double over the next decade. According to Future Market Insights, the sector will grow from $444 million in 2025 to $1.03 billion by 2036. That represents a compound annual growth rate of 8% across the period.

This expansion reflects a fundamental shift in how carbon capture technology is being deployed. Projects are moving from pilot schemes to full commercial operation. Consequently, installation volumes are rising and recurring revenue streams are becoming more predictable.

For UK businesses tracking industrial decarbonisation, these figures signal that carbon capture is no longer experimental. It is becoming embedded infrastructure, particularly in sectors where emissions are difficult to eliminate through electrification alone.

Why the market is expanding now

Several factors are driving the growth in amine solvent demand. Public funding for carbon capture has increased significantly. Meanwhile, emissions regulations continue to tighten across major economies. These two forces are creating both the financial support and the regulatory pressure needed to justify capital investment.

Investment in carbon transport and storage infrastructure is also accelerating. Without pipelines and storage sites, captured carbon has nowhere to go. As this infrastructure develops, the commercial case for capture technology strengthens. Projects that were previously uneconomic are now moving forward.

Governments and industrial operators are making substantial commitments to reach net zero. In many cases, carbon capture is the only viable option for reducing emissions from cement, steel, chemicals, and other hard-to-abate sectors. As a result, demand for the solvents that enable capture is growing in parallel with project deployment.

Beyond the initial sale of solvents, suppliers are building recurring revenue through replacement services, degradation management, and operational support. Amine solvents degrade over time when exposed to flue gases. Therefore, facilities require regular solvent reclaiming or replacement to maintain performance. This creates ongoing commercial relationships rather than one-off transactions.

Broader carbon capture sector shows even stronger growth

The amine solvent market sits within a wider carbon capture sector that is expanding rapidly. A separate market intelligence report valued the global carbon capture amine solvent market at $1.2 billion in 2024. It forecasts growth to $3.8 billion by 2033, representing a compound annual growth rate of 13.7%.

Global carbon capture, utilisation, and storage capacity is projected to reach 0.7 gigatonnes per year by 2036. That forecast implies a compound annual growth rate of 23.6% between 2026 and 2036. Currently, more than 700 carbon capture projects are at various stages of development worldwide. Collectively, these projects represent a potential capture capacity of 435 million tonnes of CO₂ per year by the end of the decade.

These figures illustrate the scale of investment flowing into carbon capture infrastructure. For businesses in supply chains connected to heavy industry, this growth trajectory suggests that carbon capture will become a standard feature of industrial operations within the next ten years.

North America leads market, Asia Pacific growth accelerates

North America currently accounts for approximately 37% of global amine solvent revenue. This leadership position is largely driven by tax incentives introduced under the Inflation Reduction Act. The legislation provides substantial rebates for carbon capture projects, which has accelerated deployment across the United States.

However, Asia Pacific is expected to register the highest compound annual growth rate through 2033. Rising energy demand and new project commencements are driving this expansion. Countries in the region are balancing continued industrial growth with decarbonisation commitments, and carbon capture is emerging as a key technology to manage that tension.

Amine solvents are forecast to hold a 61% share of the CO₂ solvents market in 2026. This dominance reflects their proven performance in absorber-stripper systems, which are the most widely deployed technology for removing CO₂ from flue gases. Despite this maturity, research continues into improving solvent efficiency and reducing the energy required for regeneration.

What carbon capture costs in different industries

The cost of carbon capture varies significantly depending on the industrial application. For natural gas processing, ethanol production, and ammonia manufacturing, capture costs typically range from $15 to $35 per tonne of CO₂. These processes produce relatively concentrated streams of CO₂, which makes capture more straightforward and less expensive.

In contrast, power generation, cement, iron and steel production, and hydrogen manufacturing face higher costs. These sectors typically see capture costs ranging from $50 to $120 per tonne of CO₂. The difference stems from lower CO₂ concentrations in flue gases and higher energy requirements for separation.

In the United States, the 45Q tax credit now provides $85 per tonne for CO₂ that is permanently stored underground. For CO₂ used in enhanced oil recovery, the credit is $65 per tonne. These incentives have changed the economics of carbon capture for many operators, particularly in sectors where capture costs fall below the value of the credit.

Implications for UK industrial businesses

UK manufacturers in cement, chemicals, steel, and refining should be monitoring these market developments closely. Carbon capture is increasingly viewed as essential infrastructure for industrial decarbonisation rather than an optional add-on. Consequently, businesses that delay investment may face competitive disadvantages as supply chains and procurement policies begin to favour lower-carbon suppliers.

The projected growth in amine solvent markets suggests that the technology is moving beyond demonstration projects. Commercial deployment is accelerating, which means costs are likely to fall as supply chains mature and operational experience accumulates. For businesses considering capital investment in capture technology, this trajectory implies that early movers may secure better terms and build operational expertise ahead of competitors.

Public sector suppliers should pay particular attention. Government procurement policies are increasingly incorporating carbon reduction criteria. The ability to demonstrate credible plans for emissions reduction, including carbon capture where appropriate, is becoming a threshold requirement for contract eligibility rather than a competitive advantage.

Access to carbon transport and storage infrastructure will also matter. The value of carbon capture technology depends on the ability to move captured CO₂ to permanent storage sites. Therefore, businesses located near proposed infrastructure corridors may find carbon capture becomes viable sooner than those in more remote locations.

Key points on amine solvent market growth

• The carbon capture amine solvents market is forecast to grow from $444 million in 2025 to $1.03 billion by 2036, representing an 8% compound annual growth rate.
• North America currently holds 37% of global market revenue, driven primarily by tax incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act.
• Capture costs range from $15 to $35 per tonne of CO₂ for natural gas processing and ethanol, but rise to $50 to $120 per tonne for power generation, cement, and steel.
• More than 700 carbon capture projects are currently in development worldwide, representing a collective capacity of 435 million tonnes of CO₂ per year by 2030.
• Amine solvents are expected to maintain a 61% share of the CO₂ solvents market in 2026, reflecting their established performance in industrial applications.
• Asia Pacific is forecast to show the highest growth rate through 2033 as energy demand rises and new capture projects commence.

Technology moving from demonstration to commercial scale

The carbon capture sector is transitioning from research and development to operational deployment. Established energy companies including ExxonMobil and Saudi Aramco are implementing traditional amine-based systems at scale. At the same time, specialist technology providers such as Climeworks and Carbon Clean Solutions are advancing alternative solvent formulations designed to reduce energy consumption and improve capture efficiency.

This dual approach suggests that the market is maturing. Proven technologies are being deployed where reliability and track record matter most. Meanwhile, innovation continues in parallel to address cost and efficiency challenges. For businesses evaluating carbon capture options, this means there is now a range of commercial solutions available rather than a single emerging technology.

As of 2020, at least 30 commercial-scale carbon capture facilities were operating globally, with 153 projects at various stages of development. That number has continued to grow as regulatory pressure increases and financial support becomes more widely available. The industry is no longer dependent on a few flagship projects; it is developing a distributed network of operational facilities across multiple sectors and geographies.

UK businesses should recognise that carbon capture is being integrated into industrial infrastructure planning. It is not a speculative technology that may or may not achieve commercial viability. It is an established approach that is being scaled up to meet decarbonisation targets across heavy industry. Therefore, strategic planning should account for carbon capture as a probable requirement rather than a distant possibility.

Operational considerations for amine solvent systems

Amine solvents require ongoing management to maintain performance. The solvents degrade when exposed to oxygen, heat, and impurities in flue gases. Consequently, operators need to monitor solvent quality, remove degradation products, and replace or reclaim solvents on a regular schedule. This creates operational costs that must be factored into project economics.

However, this maintenance requirement also supports the development of service markets. Suppliers are building business models around solvent management, including monitoring, reclaiming, and replacement services. For operators, this can reduce the operational burden of running capture systems, but it also creates ongoing costs and supply chain dependencies that need to be managed.

Energy consumption is another important consideration. Regenerating amine solvents requires heat, typically supplied by steam. This energy requirement reduces the net efficiency of power generation or industrial processes and adds to operating costs. Research into lower-energy solvents continues, but current commercial systems require careful integration with existing energy systems to minimise efficiency losses.

For UK manufacturers considering carbon capture, these operational realities matter as much as capital costs. Projects need to be evaluated not only on installation expenses but also on long-term operational costs, energy requirements, and supply chain reliability. Businesses with existing steam systems or waste heat sources may find carbon capture more economically attractive than those that need to generate additional heat specifically for solvent regeneration.

Further information and regulatory guidance

For detailed information on UK carbon capture policy and funding, visit the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. The department publishes updates on industrial decarbonisation strategy and carbon capture cluster development.

The International Energy Agency provides global analysis of carbon capture deployment and technology trends. Their reports include cost benchmarking and project tracking across major economies.

UK businesses seeking support for carbon reduction planning can access our net-zero program for carbon reporting compliance, which includes guidance on evaluating carbon capture options within broader decarbonisation strategies.

For emissions reporting requirements that may drive carbon capture investment decisions, the government’s greenhouse gas reporting guidance outlines current and forthcoming disclosure obligations for UK companies.