| Abstract Scope |
In recent years, there has been increasing recognition of the importance of industrial decarbonization, but decarbonizing the industrial sector will challenging. The U.S. industrial sector is considered a “difficult-to-decarbonize” sector of the energy economy, due in part to the diversity of energy inputs into a wide array of heterogeneous industrial processes and operations. The industrial sector accounts for 32% of the nation’s primary energy use and 28% of energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, with refining, chemicals, iron and steel, cement, and food products representing the top energy-consuming sectors. Anticipated product demand growth of 30% by 2050 with an associated increase in GHG emissions of 15% will require more than marginal improvements in carbon intensity. Achieving a low-carbon industrial sector in the United States will face a number of structural and technical challenges. The sheer magnitude of materials transformations – from extraction to intermediate and final products – will require a wide range of technology solutions that will have a ripple effect across a variety of industries and their increasingly complex supply chains. Despite these challenges to industrial decarbonization, innovative technologies and more sustainable manufacturing approaches can reduce absolute emissions while allowing for growth and increasing productivity. In this paper we will highlight pathways for energy efficiency; industrial electrification; low carbon fuels, feedstocks and energy sources; and carbon capture and utilization to lead to a more sustainable, low-carbon industrial sector. |