Danish Participation in IEA IETS Task XXI - Decarbonizing industrial systems in a circular economy framework

IEA IETS Annex Task XXI - Decarbonizing industrial systems in a circular economy framework aims to investigate the topic of circular carbon from an industry perspective, i.e., to describe industrial energy systems in the context of a sustainable, fossil-free economy, striving to meet the targets of both concepts, the circular economy and a sustainable energy system.

Resource efficiency, by way of circular transitions such as industrial symbiosis, and the development of a fossil-free economy will inevitably play an important role in a sustainable economy. Both future systems, i.e., the circular economy and the fossil-free economy, are rarely considered together in science and discourse, although they interact or often contradict each other.

Carbon is a key element in both systems. For industrial production, carbon in its various forms (hydrocarbons) plays an essential role as a raw material that is difficult to replace. The use of energy cannot enter a closed loop due to the laws of thermodynamics, and hence the efficient use of this resource should be a priority focus. But carbon circulation is pivotal in order to greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon should be circulated both in the energy and in the product sector, striving for a Carbon Cycle or a Circular Carbon economy. There is a strong connection between energy efficiency and circular carbon since the circulation of carbon molecules requires energy inputs, and it is thus important to understand the effects of circulation so that the solutions are aligned with sustainable/fossil-free development.

The two main objectives are:
1) Circular Carbon, focusing on the integration of carbon capture technologies and systems in industry and potential technical and techno-economic pathways for the reuse of carbon through Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU), with the following sub-objectives:
- Lifecycle analysis (LCA) and Energy System modelling
- Integration of carbon capture in industry
- Networking with other IETS Tasks and other TCPs’ Tasks (e.g., ETSAP)
2) Industrial Symbiosis, aiming to make industrial processes more efficient and circular through collaborations across organizational and sectorial boundaries, with the following sub-objectives:
- Definition and delimitation
- Activity: Good practice examples and new development in knowledge
- Business Models
- Networking with other IETS Tasks and other TCPs’ Tasks (e.g., IETS Task XI) Project Summary