HEATEXPO 2026 extends industrial reach: New CARBONX ZONE forum for CO₂ economy

New communal area in Hall 7 brings together CO₂ capture, transport and infrastructure, alongside plant construction and engineering in collaboration with the German Association for Carbon Management

The CARBONX ZONE sees the HEATEXPO 2026 expanding its offering to include a new communal area dedicated to carbon management. From 24 to 26 November, the section in Hall 7 will be bringing industry players and issuers together with technology providers, plant manufacturers, transport and infrastructure operators, investors, and stakeholders from the worlds of politics and research. Exhibitor presentations and a targeted specialist content programme provide a framework for engagement and interaction on technologies, projects and business models within the low-carbon economy.

Dortmund, 23 July 2026 – For energy-intensive and high-emission sectors, managing process emissions that are difficult to avoid, or are simply unavoidable, is becoming a key challenge in the transition. Carbon management encompasses strategies and technologies ranging from the avoidance and capture of CO₂ to its transport, utilisation and permanent storage. CCS sees CO₂ being captured, transported and permanently stored. CCU involves reusing captured CO₂ as a raw material, for example in the production of chemicals, building materials or synthetic fuels.

“The HEATEXPO showcases how to optimize heating and cooling systems to maximize energy performance and minimize environmental impact. With the CARBONX ZONE, we are scaling this method to address process emissions that cannot be completely eliminated for technical reasons,” said Sabine Loos, Managing Director of the Westfalenhallen Unternehmensgruppe which owns and operates the Messe Dortmund venue. “Where energy, plant engineering, infrastructure, and industry intersect, emerging challenges require integrated problem-solving and resilient project collaboration,” she added.

CARBONX ZONE raises the industrial profile of Hall 7
The new communal area in Hall 7 widens the focus on energy generation, plant engineering and industrial process heat to include carbon management. The content of the HEATEXPO and CARBONX ZONE overlap at several points. CO₂ capture requires additional energy – the separation and processing stages may also generate waste heat that can be utilised in heating grids. Thermal waste-to-energy plants also lie at the intersection of the two fields by supplying heat to district heating grids while also serving as potential sites for capturing unavoidable CO₂ emissions at the same time.

The CARBONX ZONE is aimed in particular at technical and commercial decision-makers from the cement, steel, chemical and glass industries, as well as the waste-to-energy sector. It also appeals to project managers in plant construction and engineering, logistics and infrastructure managers, port and terminal operators, as well as stakeholders from the worlds of finance, politics, trade associations and research.

Carbon management gaining momentum
Political and regulatory developments are making this issue increasingly important. In 2024, the European Commission adopted an Industrial Carbon Management Strategy covering the entire CO₂ value chain. The legislative scope for carbon dioxide pipelines and permanent storage was widened in Germany when the Carbon Dioxide Storage and Transport Act took effect at the end of 2025. Carbon management is clearly evolving from a niche topic into a key area of future industrial policy where climate targets, competitiveness, infrastructure development, and investment converge.

Three key areas along the CO₂ value chain
The CARBONX ZONE combines three key subject areas: CO₂ capture and transport, infrastructure, and plant construction and engineering. The first area focuses on technologies for capturing CO₂ from industrial processes. The second includes pipeline and grid infrastructure, rail, maritime and road transport, ports and terminals, as well as solutions for liquefaction, transshipment and temporary storage. The third area covers everything from planning and approval, through plant construction and components, to project implementation.

Short talks and chaired panel discussions on a dedicated stage complement exhibitor presentations. Details of the programme line-up will be available in good time leading up to the event at www.heat-expo.de/carbonx.

Dortmund unites industry and logistics
Dortmund brings together the industrial and logistical frameworks relevant to the new format. The Ruhr metropolitan area is a hub for high-emission industry, plant engineering, and logistics. The Port of Dortmund is connected via inland waterways, rail and road, forming a triple-mode transport network. These links between industry and logistics provide ample opportunity for discussion on the development of future CO₂ transport and value chains.

Collaboration with BVCM – Stand registration now open
The CARBONX ZONE is being developed in close collaboration with the German Association for Carbon Management (BVCM). The association is contributing specialist expertise and a network of contacts from industry, academia, politics, and the financial sector to the development of the new format. The HEATEXPO and the BVCM aim to bring together stakeholders involved in establishing end-to-end CO₂ value chains.

Companies can already book a stand in the communal area now. The programme is aimed in particular at enterprises in the cement, steel, chemicals, glass and thermal waste-to-energy sectors; at suppliers of technologies, components and services for CO₂ capture, conditioning, transport and handling; as well as at plant construction and engineering firms, pipeline and grid operators, logistics and port companies, and other stakeholders along the CO₂ value chain. Go to www.heat-expo.de/carbonx for details of the format and how to take part.