Can Digital Twins Keep Europe’s CO2 Pipelines Safe?

Real-time digital models are emerging as a key tool to support safer CO2 pipelines as Europe scales carbon capture

4 Feb 2026

Europe’s carbon capture ambitions are entering a more demanding phase. Plans are turning into steel in the ground, and attention is shifting to a less glamorous but decisive question: how to keep vast CO2 pipeline networks safe once they start operating.

That focus is drawing new interest to digital twins. These real-time digital replicas of physical pipelines began as experimental tools. Now they are edging toward early commercial use, not as flashy add-ons but as practical systems for day-to-day oversight.

The shift is happening quietly. Instead of headline-grabbing mergers, progress is coming through targeted partnerships between engineering firms, pipeline specialists, and software developers. Each brings a piece of the puzzle. Together, they are positioning digital modeling as a core component of future CO2 transport projects.

What sets digital twins apart is continuity. Traditional pipeline monitoring relies on periodic inspections and threshold-based alarms. A digital twin constantly compares live sensor data with a dynamic model of how the pipeline should behave. When reality drifts from expectation, operators gain faster insight into what might be wrong and why.

This matters for CO2 pipelines, where pressure changes and fluid behavior can complicate leak detection. Subtle anomalies can be easy to miss without context. Supporters argue that digital twins provide that context, turning raw data into actionable understanding.

Regulators are paying attention. European authorities want clearer proof that CO2 transport systems can be monitored reliably over time. Digital twins are not a shortcut to approval, but they can help demonstrate structured, evidence-based safety management.

The business case is also taking shape. Operators that adopt advanced monitoring early may stand out in project tenders and long-term operating contracts. For technology providers, growth is coming through collaboration and integration, not instant standardization.

Obstacles remain. Many systems are still being tested. Success depends on high-quality sensors, secure data flows, and skilled teams. Retrofitting older pipelines is expensive, and overpromising automation risks disappointment.

Still, the trajectory is clear. As Europe’s CO2 networks move from concept to operation, digital twins are becoming less of a technical curiosity and more of a practical tool for safer scale-up.