From 15 to 17 September 2026, representatives of the European HERCCULES project met in Kavala, Greece, to review project progress, discuss the development of the full CCUS value chain, and engage with local stakeholders.

HERCCULES — HEROES IN SOUTHERN EUROPE TO DECARBONIZE INDUSTRY WITH CCUS — is one of the major European projects addressing the complete chain of CO₂ capture, transport, utilisation and geological storage, with demonstration activities focused particularly on Greece and Italy.

More than 50 participants from across Europe joined the meeting onsite and online, including representatives of major industrial and research organisations such as Eni, Energean, Buzzi S.p.A., LEAP, and other project partners.

SHOGenergy is a partner in the HERCCULES project and was represented in Kavala by Dr Kazbulat Shogenov and Dr Alla Shogenova. During the meeting, Dr Alla Shogenova presented the work carried out within SHOGenergy’s project activities and reported on the progress achieved within the relevant work package.

Progress towards CO₂ geological storage in Greece

One of the most important topics discussed during the meeting was the progress achieved in Greece in establishing the regulatory and permitting framework required for the implementation of CCUS.

Considerable work has been carried out by the Greek authorities, industry and project partners to advance the conditions necessary for the development of geological CO₂ storage. In particular, the activities of Energean related to the Prinos area represent an important step towards the first industrial-scale geological CO₂ storage developments in the Mediterranean region.

As part of the project programme, participants visited the Prinos offshore platform, where future CO₂ injection into a subsea geological formation is planned.

The visit provided an opportunity to better understand the existing offshore infrastructure, geological storage concept and practical challenges associated with the development of a large-scale CCUS project.

Public engagement is part of CCUS deployment

The programme also included an open dissemination event attended by politicians, media representatives, project participants and members of the local community.

The event highlighted one of the most important challenges facing large infrastructure and energy-transition projects: public acceptance.

A demonstration against the planned CO₂ storage project took place close to the event. For project participants, this was a clear reminder that technological development alone is insufficient.

Even when a technology has been studied scientifically and is subject to extensive monitoring, regulation and risk-management procedures, public understanding and trust cannot be taken for granted.

For Dr Kazbulat Shogenov, the experience provided an important lesson:

Scientific results, engineering studies and regulatory approvals are only part of the process. If local communities do not understand how a technology works, why it is needed and how risks are managed, uncertainty can quickly turn into opposition.

This is why dissemination, education and transparent communication must be treated as essential parts of CCUS development rather than as secondary project activities.

The energy transition requires not only new infrastructure and investment, but also a knowledge transition.

From Prinos to Philippi

The intensive scientific and project programme was complemented by a visit to the archaeological site of Philippi, one of the most important Roman and early Christian historical sites in Europe.

The ruins of the ancient city offered a striking contrast to the modern technological discussions taking place during the HERCCULES meeting.

Civilisations, technologies and economic systems change over time. Today’s challenge is to ensure that the transition towards a low-carbon economy is based on science, engineering, international cooperation and responsible long-term decision-making.

For SHOGenergy, participation in HERCCULES remains part of a broader mission: to contribute to the practical implementation of CCUS, hydrogen technologies and sustainable subsurface energy solutions in Europe.

The work continues.

HERCCULES — HEROES IN SOUTHERN EUROPE TO DECARBONIZE INDUSTRY WITH CCUS

SHOGenergy — Science, Innovation and Technologies for the Energy Transition