Industrial decarbonisation refers to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from manufacturing, processing, energy use and associated industrial activities. It combines energy efficiency, cleaner energy supplies, process redesign, material efficiency and, where appropriate, carbon capture technologies.
Industries such as cement, iron and steel, chemicals, refining and fertiliser production have different emissions profiles. Some emissions arise from fuel combustion, while others are produced directly by chemical reactions or industrial processes. Effective strategies therefore depend on the characteristics of each facility and its production system.
The purpose of industrial decarbonisation is to lower emissions while maintaining safe, reliable and economically viable industrial operations.
Understanding the source of emissions is the first step in evaluating reduction opportunities. Industrial emissions are commonly associated with three overlapping areas:
| Emissions source | Typical examples | Potential approaches |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel combustion | Boilers, furnaces, kilns and on-site power generation | Efficiency, fuel switching, electrification and low-carbon heat |
| Industrial processes | CO₂ from cement calcination or chemical production | Process innovation, alternative feedstocks and carbon capture |
| Purchased energy and supply chains | Electricity, purchased steam and upstream materials | Cleaner electricity, procurement and material efficiency |
Emissions boundaries must be clearly defined to avoid double counting. Facility-level and product-level assessments can serve different purposes.
Industrial decarbonisation is rarely achieved through a single technology. The most suitable combination depends on process temperatures, feedstocks, local energy infrastructure, technical maturity and operating conditions.
Illustrative pathways; actual measures require site-specific technical and environmental assessment.
Performance assessment should compare emissions using consistent boundaries and methods. Absolute greenhouse gas emissions and emissions intensity are both useful, but they answer different questions.
Absolute emissions: Total greenhouse gas emissions over a defined period, commonly expressed in tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e).
Emissions intensity: Emissions relative to a defined output, such as tCO₂e per tonne of product. Intensity can improve even when total emissions increase, so both indicators should be reviewed together.
Illustrative values only—not measured project results or a promised reduction.
Other important indicators include energy consumption, process efficiency, product quality, capital and operating costs, and the reliability of monitoring data. Lifecycle and upstream effects should be considered where relevant.
Research into industrial decarbonisation combines engineering, materials science, emissions measurement, systems analysis and environmental assessment. Promising solutions must be evaluated against the specific operating conditions of each application.
Heat recovery, process integration, electrification and efficient equipment can reduce energy demand and combustion-related emissions.
Absorption, adsorption, membranes and other separation methods may help address suitable concentrated or dilute CO₂ streams.
Monitoring systems, emissions inventories and consistent baselines help evaluate progress and support transparent reporting.
Environmental performance must be assessed beyond CO₂ alone. Water use, air pollutants, waste generation, material requirements and local environmental impacts may influence the overall sustainability of a proposed technology.
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