Global Roadmap Study of CO2U Technologies

Abstract

Global warming due to carbon dioxide emissions is the grand challenge of our time. Carbon capture and utilization (CO2U) technologies have the potential to significantly lower CO2 emissions. This study analyzed the state of CO2U technology in 2016: Four major market opportunities in fuel, building materials, chemical intermediates and polymers were found. Almost 180 technology developers were analyzed to assess technology feasibility, readiness, and momentum. Lessons learnt were show-cased as case studies for policy, technology and market development. Based on the cumulative analysis, a roadmap that depicts specific strategic actions that can be taken and their expected impact on accelerating implementation of CO2U technologies was created. We conclude that the following strategic actions will help grow the CO2U market size to $700B by 2030: Policy: Implement global carbon tax, increase mandates for renewable products and fuels and/or incentivize reduction of CO2 emissions by fuel, chemical, materials and building materials producers Technology: Fund research to improve catalysis for CO2 reduction and to improve electrolysis to produce H2 Market: Funding for collaborations between research institutes, start-ups, governments and corporations for process integration of CO2 conversion, H2 generation, and carbon capture