The World CCUS Conference is proud to celebrate the winners of the 2026 WCCUS Awards, recognising outstanding innovation and leadership accelerating the deployment of Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) worldwide.
The winners were announced and honoured at WCCUS 2026 in Edinburgh, bringing well-deserved recognition to individuals and teams whose ideas, technologies and leadership are helping move the global CCUS industry forward.
The World CCUS Conference (WCCUS) is pleased to announce the launch of the WCCUS Awards, recognising outstanding innovation and leadership accelerating the deployment of Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) worldwide.
As global net-zero pathways require rapid and scalable implementation of CCUS, these awards aim to highlight transformative ideas and bold actions that move the industry forward.
Don MacElroy, John Breen, Cristina López Olmos, Seyed Mahdi Akbarimoosavi, Erik Malan and Alfred Jovin Rajan
The NEG8 Carbon Technical Team received the WCCUS Breakthrough Technology Award for its pioneering Electrostatic Direct Air Capture technology.
The technology combines low-temperature regeneration and the utilisation of industrial waste heat to reduce the energy requirements associated with Direct Air Capture. Its development to a TRL 6 prototype demonstrates significant potential for scalable and cost-effective carbon removal.
The award recognises breakthrough innovation that significantly advances CCUS technology, deployment, integration or impact, with particular emphasis on scientific and technical excellence, demonstrated innovation, early application and the potential for global scalability.
Congratulations to the entire NEG8 Carbon team on this achievement.
To recognise a breakthrough innovation that significantly advances CCUS technology, deployment, integration, or impact.
The 2026 WCCUS Rising Leader Award was jointly presented to Nihal Mounir Darraj, Imperial College London, and Saravanan Janakiram, Aqualung Carbon Capture.
The award recognises exceptional young professionals who are accelerating CCUS through novel ideas, entrepreneurship, technical innovation and implementation leadership.
Both recipients have demonstrated significant contributions to the advancement and deployment of CCUS and represent the next generation of leaders shaping the sector.
Congratulations to Nihal and Saravanan on this well-deserved recognition.
Nominations must not exceed four (4) pages
(excluding references and CV) and must include:
1. Executive Summary (max ½ page)
Clear description of the innovation or contribution and its significance.
2. Scientific and Technical Basis
Evidence supporting the validity and originality of the work.
3. Demonstration or Early Application
Examples of pilot projects, field application, technology readiness level (TRL), or implementation outcomes.
4. Track Record of Nominee(s)
Relevant achievements, publications, leadership roles, or entrepreneurial activity.
5. Peer-Reviewed Evidence
At least two peer-reviewed publications OR equivalent independent technical validation supporting the idea.
6. References
3 letters of endorsement
7. AI Use Declaration
A brief statement describing the role of AI tools (if any) in preparation of the nomination materials.
Incomplete submissions will not be considered.
Call for Nominations Opens
1 March 2026
Submission Deadline
31 May 2026
Award Ceremony
At WCCUS 2026
The WCCUS Awards are established to:
Award recipients will be honoured during the plenary session of WCCUS 2026 and featured in official conference communications.
All nominations must be submitted electronically through the official WCCUS Awards portal administered by EAGE. Submission link, detailed instructions and the possibility for inquiries are available here:
On behalf of the World CCUS Conference Board of Directors, we warmly invite nominations from across the global CCUS community. Together, we recognise those accelerating the path to net zero.
WCCUS Award Committee Co-Chairs
Philip Ringrose & Tao Yang
