Industry Decarbonization

Readings and Videos on
Industry Decarbonization

For a complete learning experience, we strongly encourage you to review the readings and videos below in addition to watching the Decarbonizing the Industrial Sector lecture.  

General

• How Heavy Industries Contribute to Climate Change and What Can Be Done to Cut Emissions. PBS NewsHour. March 29, 2024. (6 min)
  A brief explanation of why heavy industry has been slow to decarbonize and projects that are being funded by recent White House pledges to spur a green revolution in industry. 
• Rebecca Dell on Decarbonizing Heavy Industry. Volts Podcast. February 11, 2022. (92 minutes)
  A comprehensive overview of the problems of industrial decarbonization, promising technological solutions, and the kinds of policies that could accelerate progress.
• Heavy Industry and Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions - What Does the Future Hold?. DW Documentary. September 19, 2023. (28 min)
  Explores the challenges and presents glimmers of hope on the path to eco-friendly heavy industry.
• Biden Admin Plans Historic $6 Billion Industrial Carbon Offensive. Axios. March 25, 2024. (1 page)
  The Energy Department plans to award up to $6 billion across 33 projects to wring carbon dioxide from heavy industries like metals, chemicals, and cement.
• Chart: Which Sectors Are the Biggest Industrial Emitters in the US?. Canary Media. May 24, 2024. (1 page)
  Chart showing direct industrial emissions by subsector in the US and brief explanation of the implications. 
• Electric Reactor Could Cut Industrial Emissions. StanfordReport. August 19, 2024 (2 pages)
  Researchers at Stanford have developed a new thermochemical reactor that can use electricity to generate the immense heat needed for industrial processes. 
• Bronze Age Technology Could Aid Switch to Clean Energy. Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. August 1, 2024. (2 pages)
  Stanford research finds potentially significant benefits to using "firebricks" for storing heat that can be used for industrial processes.
• Can Antora Energy Solve Green Energy Challenge For Industry?. Forbes. May 21, 2024. (3 pages)
  An introduction to Antora Energy, a start up that developed a thermal battery with the potential to help decarbonize industry. 

Steel

• How Steel Might Finally Kick Its Coal Habit. Wired. February 6, 2021. (2 pages)
  Describes the approach Boston Metal is working on that has the potential to decarbonize steelmaking. 
• Making Carbon-Free Steel With Clean Electricity. Volts Podcast. May 29, 2024. (51 minutes)
  The CEO of Boston Metal explains "molten oxide electrolysis" and its potential to transform the steel production industry. 

Chemicals

• Living With Chemistry. Voyager. March 29, 2024. (4 pages)
  Explores the challenges to decarbonizing chemicals production and promising approaches that are emerging. 

Cement

• The ​‘Clean Cement’ Projects Getting $1.5b in Biden Admin Funds. Canary Media. March 27, 2024. (3 pages)
  A breakdown of cement decarbonization projects that won awards and the technology pathways they are exploring. 

• Here's 3 Ways to Cut the Carbon Out of Cement Right Now. Forbes. February 7, 2023. (1 page)
  Describes three groups of solutions for decarbonizing the cement industry. 

   

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