The Catalyst Group Resources (TCGR) continues to provide forward-looking advice in its new multi-client and select-client reports along with those delivered for its membership programs.
PPT Deck Here (PDF)│Report ToC Here (PDF)
Because of the Carbon Dioxide Capture and Conversion (CO2CC) Program focus on CO2/GHG emission reductions and decarbonization, we are sharing access to a Power Point Deck which extracts the important and salient findings from our recently completed techno-economic report entitled, Energy Efficiency/CO2 Mitigation Case Study Series – Vol. 3: Allied Industries. This report was developed as one of three reports delivered in 2020 exclusively to members of our CO2CC Program and follows the first two volumes in the highly regarded series: Vol. 1: Refining & Fuels (2014) and Vol. 2: Petrochemicals & Chemicals (2015).
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A critical feature of the CO2CC Program is its members-only techno-economic reports, where topics are selected by ballot and where contents are shaped by members’ Table of Contents inputs.
The allied industries including cement, iron/steel and mining, are high profile greenhouse gas (GHG) emitters which are under increasing pressure to decarbonize their operations. There are many drivers for decarbonization: worsening adverse weather events, tightening regulations, diminishing supplies of critical raw materials (CRM), increasing financial levies and reports from non-governmental organizations (NGO) highlighting environmental emissions from companies in these sectors. All the major producers in key allied industries are considering measures to reduce their GHG emissions including CO2 and CH4.
As documented in this report with regard to cement production, more radical moves, e.g., to alternative cement chemistries (outside of Belite-rich systems), will face more of a challenge in terms of acceptance. The industry’s preference is to continue with engineering and process improvements such as oxyfuel burners. The direct separation reactor (DSR) is rapidly being proven and there are significant industry backers for two European Union consortium projects utilizing this type of approach — LEILAC and its successor LEILAC II. Switching to hydrogen or biomass fuel are approaches well-studied in the cement sector, but their impacts are limited. The necessity of CCS for the cement sector is becoming clear if carbon penalties and a continued negative public image are to be avoided.
The iron and steel sectors have many synergies with that of cement in terms of making efficiency improvements. Best Available Techniques (BATs) do offer steelmakers the opportunity to optimize their plants, although there are still a significant proportion of older less efficient plants which hold back the industry’s lowering of its carbon footprint. Lanzatech has been very successful in working with steel companies to implement its Steelanol gas fermentation technology for production of alcohols and aviation fuels. Electrowinning and electrolysis-derived hydrogen are both promising technologies; however, they are highly sensitive to electricity prices. Integration of steelmaking into “Power-To-X” projects where it can offer a synergistic benefit on grid-balancing for renewable electricity and production of chemicals such as methane, methanol, dimethyl ether (DME) could help to overcome economic constraints.
Reductions in the mining industry’s carbon footprint have thus far largely been realized because of the economic and competitive benefits that come with adoption of BAT. Methane abatement has been a relatively low-hanging fruit for the industry and the payback on recovered heat and power has provided good techno-economics. Even solutions for ventilation air methane (VAM) which is as dilute as 1% in air have been developed – e.g., Johnson Matthey’s COMET™ VAM oxidation technology in conjunction with AngloCoal.
In TCGR’s report, Energy Efficiency/CO2 Mitigation Case Study Series – Vol. 3: Allied Industries, decarbonization technologies and activities in three key industries are covered: cement, iron and steel, and mining. Industry characteristics and landscape, sources of GHG emissions and relevant GHG mitigation techniques are set out with a view to profiling each industry’s progress and plans for further decarbonization.
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By the direction of the member companies (through balloting and other interactive means) and operated by TCGR, the CO2CC Program delivers weekly monitoring communications via email (CO2CC Communiqués), three techno-economic reports (highly referenced and peer reviewed) and scheduled meetings of members (either in-person or via webinar). Access to deliverables is exclusive to members.
In addition to the program deliverables, TCGR works with members to identify and foster competitive advantage and opportunity. This value-added relationship, along with active participation by the membership, leads to improved (or unique) external R&D and commercial investment possibilities.
Don’t be left behind! Align with leading industrial member-companies like BASF, ExxonMobil, Linde, Petrobras, Reliance and Total, among others, in the decarbonization and CO2 utilization space by joining the CO2CC Program today. This is the only way to get TCGR’s in-depth and unparalleled reports.
More information about this and other services of the CO2CC Program can be seen at here. Call +1-215-628-4447 or e-mail John Murphy at jmurphy@catalystgrp.com and we’ll be happy to discuss these and other interesting membership benefits.
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The Catalyst Group Resources (TCGR), a member of The Catalyst Group, is dedicated to monitoring and analyzing technical and commercial developments in catalysis as they apply to the global refining, petrochemical, fine/specialty chemical, pharmaceutical, polymer/elastomer and environmental industries.