Decarbonisation Technology February 2026 Issue

Regulatory Comission’s (NRC) evolving Part 53 licensing framework introduces both anticipation and uncertainty for first-of-a-kind SMR designs ( US NRC, 2025 ). Even so, the broader narrative continues to shift in favour of nuclear, driven by increased demand for reliable, carbon-free capacity and the urgency of meeting around-the- clock electricity needs. Geothermal also advanced as enhanced geothermal systems demonstrated improved drilling success and reservoir performance. Techniques adapted from the oil and gas sector reduced well costs and improved subsurface productivity. Fervo Energy’s Cape Station project secured new financing and advanced toward commercial operation, reinforcing industry confidence that geothermal can scale into a meaningful source of firm, clean power (Fervo Energy, 2025) . While total US geothermal capacity remains small relative to other clean resources, 2025 marked a shift in perception: geothermal moved closer to being seen as a credible contributor to the firm-power portfolio needed for a more electrified economy. CCUS: A market in reassessment Carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) entered 2025 with a large, announced pipeline but uneven project readiness. The US still had the highest volume of proposed capacity globally, yet only a modest share of projects advanced to final investment decision (FID) (Statista, 2024) (Global CCS institute, 2025) . OBBBA’s narrowed credit windows and tighter eligibility requirements forced many developers to revisit schedules, financing assumptions, and commercial structures. Permitting remained a major bottleneck. Louisiana entered 2025 already operating under Class VI primacy, and Texas continued advancing its application, yet long federal and state review timelines still slowed project progression ( US EPA, 2025 ) ( Trihydro Corporation, 2025 ). CO₂ transport infrastructure also trailed the pace of capture project announcements, creating additional constraints for early movers. As a result, meaningful momentum concentrated around industrial clusters along the US Gulf Coast, where storage formations, existing pipeline corridors, and dependable industrial offtake created the most viable near-term pathways for CCUS deployment. A notable development in 2025 was the

Eclipse Energy

Separation

Clean molecules

Injection system

Clean electrons

Figure 4 Eclipse Energy Black to Gold H2 process.

Source: (Eclipse Energy, 2025)

The rise of this category reflected growing interest in hydrogen options that can scale within existing industrial systems rather than rely solely on new production and transmission networks. Taken together, the US hydrogen sector in 2025 shifted away from the ambitious scale of early post-IRA announcements and toward more practical, infrastructure aligned opportunities. Developers concentrated on projects with clearer economics, stronger offtake, and more compatible siting conditions. This created a more measured but more durable foundation for future hydrogen growth. Nuclear and geothermal build momentum Nuclear energy gained renewed strategic relevance in 2025 as utilities, industrial buyers, and major hyperscalers sought firm, zero-carbon power with long-duration output. Interest in small modular reactors (SMRs) continued to grow, supported by federal tax credits and DOE loan programmes (US DOE, 2018 ) (X energy, 2024 ). Several hyperscalers advanced long-term strategies for securing firm, carbon-free power. Microsoft continued development of its fusion- based power purchase agreement with Helion (Helion, 2023) ( Nellis, 2025 ). Google deepened its work with utilities and research partners exploring next-generation nuclear technologies as part of its 24-7 carbon-free energy programme. Meta and other major cloud operators participated in regional utility planning efforts that evaluated SMRs as potential sources of clean, dispatchable power near emerging digital infrastructure hubs ( Constellation Energy, 2025 ). The nuclear supply chain continues to require significant expansion, and the Nuclear