The first carbon capture project in Portugal was launched in February 2025 at the S. João da Talha Energy Recovery Plant, managed by Valorsul, the entity responsible for managing urban waste in Greater Lisbon and the Western Region (see Good Practice: Production of energy from urban waste ).

It is a pilot project that tests a cutting-edge technology that, through a 100% electrified process, captures CO₂ from industrial gases, using a highly selective solvent and ensuring safe and efficient operation. The project will optimize the performance of the entire process at the Energy Recovery Plant and reduce its environmental impact.

Currently, the captured CO₂ can be reused through geological storage or through chemical processes that allow the production of synthetic fuels, plastics, and construction materials such as carbonated concrete. It can also be used in the food industry, for example, in the carbonation of beverages. Another possible application is the conversion of CO₂ into useful chemicals, such as methanol or polymers, using green hydrogen.