The global pursuit of net-zero emissions necessitates targeted and innovative strategies for the most carbon-intensive and challenging-to-decarbonize industries. While numerous nations have committed to ambitious emission reduction targets through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), many others are actively exploring viable pathways and the economic incentives offered by voluntary carbon markets. Achieving meaningful progress demands a focus on sectors with the highest carbon footprints and the greatest inherent difficulties in transitioning away from fossil fuels. This Ph.D. project will delve into the critical decarbonization pathways for a cluster of such "hard-to-abate" industries: fertilizers, steel, cement, refining, and petrochemicals. These foundational sectors collectively account for a substantial portion of global energy consumption (approximately 25%) and a significant share of worldwide carbon emissions (approximate 20%). Carbon emission trading, an increasingly vital policy instrument, holds the potential to unlock additional financial benefits for projects that demonstrably lead to deep decarbonization within these industries. The core of achieving substantial emission reductions lies in exploring transformative strategies, including the green electrification of existing high-emission processes, the integration of green hydrogen as a fuel and feedstock, and the deployment of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies. This Ph.D. research will meticulously investigate the decarbonization options specifically for the one or more of the above critical industries. The work will entail a comprehensive analysis of its Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, the creation of detailed carbon inventories, and the identification of a range of potential decarbonization strategies tailored to this sector. Furthermore, the project will rigorously evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of these proposed strategies, taking into account the potential influence of carbon taxes and evolving carbon markets. The development of marginal abatement cost curves (MACCs) for various technological interventions will be crucial in enabling the fertilizer industry to strategically prioritize its decarbonization efforts. Ultimately, this project aims to project achievable emission reduction targets for the fertilizer sector and assess the financial support, such as viability gap funding, required for successful implementation. The ambition extends to developing a more generalized methodology and analytical tool applicable to charting decarbonization pathways for other similarly carbon-intensive industrial sectors, thereby contributing a valuable framework for broader industrial transformation. Background required: Bachelors or Masters degree in Chemical, Mechanical or Energy Engineering, or related areas. Strong interest and background in mathematical modeling is desirable. Good understanding of basic Electrical Engineering is desirable.
“Elevating Horizons Through Discovery and Ingenuity”