Energy have not executed as well in this area as they thought . Using digitalization to make energy use more efficient will deliver further gains of up to 20 per cent , both reducing CO ₂ and increasing margins .

Step three – carbon capture and removal

This is another significant step that can deliver another 20 per cent in reductions . One option is point-source carbon capture and storage ( CCS ), removing carbon from flue gases . Another is direct air capture ( DAC ), which takes carbon out of the atmosphere at specialized plants using huge fans and chemistry . This is at lower concentration than carbon capture , but whereas CCS take a company to zero , DAC could , by removing more carbon that a company emits , take it below zero ( called ‘ carbon removal ’ by the UN ). Currently , however , carbon capture is expensive , and transport , storing and monitoring the captured carbon ( sequestered in former North Sea oil and gas fields , for example ) are all challenging . Subsidies and carbon offsets currently make the costs acceptable , but embedding digital technology is likely to lead to economic breakthroughs .

Hydrogen is an exciting prospect as a clean alternative to fossil fuels

utilizations . Here is it possible to drive emissions down another ten percent in typical chemical and refining settings .

Step five – electrification of process equipment

This step is for organizations running equipment on diesel , natural gas or the

Step four – switching to low carbon feedstocks

Low-carbon inputs are an obvious source of reductions for manufacturing , especially through bio feedstock manufacturing-today . com 25