In the bustling city of Houston, Texas, the Carbon Capture Technology Expo North America brought together key players in the CCUS industry. Co-located with the Hydrogen Technology Expo, the event showcased the growing importance of carbon capture technologies and their role in shaping a sustainable future. IDTechEx highlighted three key insights from the expo: 1. Direct air capture facilities, such as Stratos by Occidental Petroleum, are steering away from fossil fuel extraction, focusing instead on dedicated geological storage of captured CO2. This shift signifies a departure from the traditional enhanced oil recovery model, setting the stage for a future where CCUS business models center around carbon removal credits. 2. The future of direct air capture looks promising with advancements like the Mammoth facility and the upcoming Stratos project, which will significantly scale up CO2 sequestration efforts. By incorporating renewable energy sources and exploring technologies like nuclear fusion, Occidental aims to drive clean energy infrastructure alongside its DAC projects. 3. Carbon capture technologies are vital for advancing the hydrogen economy, particularly in the production of blue hydrogen. Industry leaders discussed the various carbon capture technologies suitable for blue hydrogen production, highlighting the role of CCUS in enabling the development of hydrogen supply chains. While green hydrogen remains a sustainable long-term solution, blue hydrogen offers a transitional pathway until green technologies become more cost-effective. 4. Sustainable fuels derived from captured CO2 and low-carbon hydrogen are gaining traction in the aviation and shipping sectors as a viable decarbonization strategy. With the limitations of battery technologies for full electrification, these fuels present a promising solution for reducing emissions in industries with high energy demands. The expo emphasized the evolving landscape of CCUS technologies and their pivotal role in transitioning towards a more sustainable energy future.