Industry, more specifically, heavy industry is often seen as THE bad boy when it comes to carbon emissions. We've all seen those stock pictures used in articles about greenhouse gases where there's a landscape of chimney stacks spewing forth whatever it is they spew forth....? Well, even that can be virtually eliminated with current technology.
Taking the UK as an example, where around a quarter of our carbon emissions are from industry, half could be removed, simply by shifting the electricity grid from fossil fuels to renewables. That is not only feasible, but well underway here, as in many other countries.
Producing and refining oil and natural gas generates a lot of industrial carbon emissions by itself (40% in the UK). So, as we reduce the need for these fossil fuels in the likes of transport, aviation, and heating, those emissions will also reduce over time.
The other 60% of industrial emissions in the UK come from the steel, chemical, aluminium and cement sectors.
Steel
The bulk of emissions in this sector come from making 'virgin' steel i.e. Brand new steel using iron and coal. These could be dramatically reduced by replacing current carbon intense techniques (using something called 'sinter' as the raw material) with more up-to-date ones which use either 'pellets' or, possibly, hydrogen (as is being trialled by Swedes).
Better still, use recycled steel. All UK future needs could be supplied by recycling what has traditionally been 'lost' to the system. By disassembling old products to get at the steel, we can triple the steel available for recycling over the coming years. If we de-carbonise electricity, then this recycled material will be emissions free.
Chemicals
There are a great many chemicals being produced by this country. The basic way that emissions can be reduced is by improving efficiency by using the best available tech.
Aluminium
Most of the emissions come from the electrodes used in the smelting process. They emit CO2 as they're used. Improved electrodes, which only give off oxygen are on their way (Backed by big players like Rio Tinto) and should be available by the mid 2020's.
In the meantime, better recycling rates are reducing the need for 'virgin' aluminium anyway.
Cement
The cement industry has often been seen as one of the worst offenders in terms of industrial emissions. However, it has more than halved it's emissions over the last 30 years. It has worked how to reduce them by 81% come 2050.
There is even the strong possibility of carbon-negative concrete coming to the market soon. This form of concrete actually absorbs more carbon whilst hardening than is generated during production!
Demand reduction will also be important. This can be achieved by using alternative materials, being more efficient during the building process, and using partly hollow structures.
=========
Yes, all the solutions are there or on their way, and heavy industry is already working towards it. All that needs doing now is for governments to encourage them on their way, either by incentives or taxes.
Next: Farming
No comments:
Post a Comment