Decarbonizing hard-to-abate heavy industries: Current status and pathways towards net-zero future

• Published in: Process safety and environmental protection 2024-07, Vol.187, p.408-430
• Main Authors: Kumar, Amit, Tiwari, Arun Kumar, Milani, Dia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Calcium looping; Carbon capture and storage; Decarbonization; Hard-to-abate emissions; Net-zero; Technology Readiness Levels
• ISSN: 0957-5820; 1744-3598
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psep.2024.04.107

Addressing carbon emissions from hard-to-abate heavy industries has become critical for mitigating global climate change. This review systematically examines the current landscape, practical routes to decarbonise, and future pathways toward achieving net-zero emissions in four critical sectors: iron and steel, cement, coal-fired power generation, and chemical synthesis industries. The paper also underscores the urgent need for carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology solutions targeting the CO2 emissions from these vital industries. The paper focuses on analysing global efforts to implement commercially viable and cost-effective CCS models to pinpoint the most efficient technologies. Detailed overviews of each industry's carbon capture potential and decarbonization pathways are presented, alongside discussions on innovative, cost-effective CCS technologies currently operational worldwide. Moreover, the paper explores the integration of renewable energy sources as a crucial component in achieving a net-zero future. It also explores negative emission technologies such as Direct Air Capture, Bioenergy coupled with CCS, and Geochemical methods, highlighting their potential to offset emissions from these hard-to-abate industries. By consolidating contemporary advancements, confronting challenges, and projecting future prospects, this paper systematically elucidates the intricate pathways toward attaining carbon neutrality within hard-to-abate industrial sectors.