Use & Efficiency

Industry

Reducing Industrial Energy Use and CO₂ Emissions: The Role of Materials Science

Dolf Gielen^a1, John Newman^a1 and Martin K. Patel^a2

^a1 International Energy Agency, France

^a2 Utrecht University, The Netherlands

Abstract

Nearly one-third of the world's energy consumption and 36% of its carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions are attributable to manufacturing industries. However, the adoption of advanced technologies already in commercial use could provide technical energy savings in industry of 27–41 exajoules (EJ), along with a reduction in CO₂ emissions of 2.2–3.2 gigatonnes (Gt) per year, about 7–12% of today's global CO₂ emissions. Even more significant savings can be attained on the supply side if fuel switching and CO₂ capture and storage are considered. However, such changes must start in the coming decade to have a substantial impact by 2050.

Dolf Gielen can be reached at International Energy Agency, 9 Rue de la Federation, 75739 Paris Cedex 15, France; tel. +33–1–40–57–66–57, fax +33–1–40–57–67–59, and e-mail Dolf.Gielen@iea.org.

Gielen has been a senior energy analyst working for the International Energy Agency (IEA) in Paris in the Energy Technology Policy Division since 2002. Gielen studied chemical engineering at the Technical University Eindhoven and environmental sciences at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. In 1999, he fnished his PhD degree thesis on energy and materials systems analysis at the Technical University Delft. Gielen's main task at IEA is to advise the IEA member governments regarding energy technology policies. He is currently coordinating the IEA activities in the feld of industrial energy use in the framework of the G8 Dialogue on Climate Change, Clean Energy, and Sustainable Development. Also, Gielen is responsible for the energy technology modeling activities.

John Newman can be reached by e-mail at john.newman@iea.org.

Newman is an energy and environmental consultant to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Newman has a BS degree in metallurgical engineering from the Ohio State University and a MS degree in technology and policy studies from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Prior to becoming a consultant to IEA, Newman also held positions with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), working on basic science challenges in the energy sector; the IEA Secretariat, specializing in energy effciency policy; the U.S. Offce of Technology Assessment, analyzing industrial energy use and minerals policy; and the U.S. International Trade Commission, investigating steel trade issues.

Martin K. Patel can be reached at the Department of Science, Technology and Society, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 2, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands; and e-mail m.k.patel@uu.nl.

Patel has been an assistant professor at the Department of Science, Technology, and Society (STS) at Utrecht University, Netherlands since 2001. Patel studied chemical engineering in Karlsruhe, Germany, and was with the Fraunhofer Institute ISI in Karlsruhe until 2000. He received his PhD degree from Utrecht University in 1999 for his thesis on the energy use and CO₂ emissions, and the related saving potentials in the chemical sector. At STS, Patel is coordinating the research cluster “Energy and Materials Demand and Effciency.” His work deals with the techno-economic analysis of energy saving, and emission reduction potentials in the industry sector, energy conversion, and waste management.