The government has published documents setting out how eight of the most heat-intensive industry sectors can reduce their greenhouse-gas emissions and become more energy efficient.
The industrial decarbonisation and energy efficiency roadmaps cover: iron and steel; chemicals; oil refining; food and drink; pulp and paper; cement; glass; and ceramics (lexisurl.com/iema82826).
The reports reveal that carbon emissions are highest from the iron and steel sector, which emitted 22.8 million tonnes of CO2 in 2012. The roadmap for iron and steel suggests that emissions could be reduced by 60% by 2050 if the maximum technical potential for decarbonisation in the sector was deployed. This would cost up to £600 million.
UK Steel, which represents the industry, described the roadmap as a “vital first step in building a comprehensive understanding of the decarbonisation options available”. However, its director, Gareth Stace, warned that the government had to put industrial competitiveness at the centre of its decarbonisation policy.
“Central to this is long-term certainty around the compensation package for the pass-through costs of electricity sector decarbonisation, as well as the necessary reforms to carbon leakage measures within the EU emissions trading system,” he said.