This paper assesses the technical potential of emission and energy savings of the most important abatement options for a wide range of industrial sectors and in a consistent way.
The industrial sector accounts for 38% and 25% of global final energy consumption and direct CO2 emissions, respectively. To enable the design of comprehensive and evidence-based industrial decarbonisation strategies, this paper assesses the technical potential of emission and energy savings of the most important abatement options for a wide range of industrial sectors and in a consistent way.
The results show that the decarbonisation of industrial sectors is likely to require a combination of bespoke technologies that rely on electrification, fuel switching to hydrogen and biomass, carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies, novel processes, and resources and energy efficiency options.
Technologies with medium to high maturity (6–9 technology readiness level [TRL]) that involve CCS or fuel switching to hydrogen or biomass can save nearly 85% of emissions on average in most industrial sectors. Low-maturity electric technologies can theoretically decarbonize from 40% to 100% of direct sectoral emissions including from energy-intensive processes. Further research, development, and demonstration is therefore needed for low- and medium-maturity technologies accompanied by large-scale infrastructure development to accelerate the decarbonisation of industrial sectors.
