GHGT-17: Technical Plenary Day 3

Day 3 (Wednesday 23^rd October) of the GHGT-17 conference opened with a technical plenary session, featuring insights from Sarah Forbes (US DOE) and Claude Lorea (GCCA) on carbon management and CCUS deployment.

Sarah Forbes: Advancing Carbon Management at the US DOE
Sarah Forbes, Director of the Office of Carbon Management Technologies at the US Department of Energy (DOE), highlighted the department’s research and development initiatives in carbon management. As part of the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM), the DOE’s mission centres on tackling the climate crisis, with five key areas of focus.

A critical component of this mission is point source carbon capture, which supports the first-of-a-kind (FOAK) carbon capture demonstrations in the power and industrial sectors. By coupling these technologies with reliable CO₂ storage, the DOE aims to make carbon capture commercially viable and accelerate the transition to a carbon-free economy by 2050. Currently, 67 projects are in various stages of development, with diverse technology readiness levels (TRLs).

The DOE’s Carbon Negative Shot™ initiative addresses carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies, with the ambitious goal of capturing CO₂ at gigaton scales for under $100 per net metric ton. This initiative supports both supply and demand by scaling up demand for CDR while advancing research, development, and demonstration (RD&D). In addition, the DOE is focusing on carbon conversion technologies that produce sustainable, cost-competitive products. Recent efforts include $29 million in funding to advance these technologies. The DOE’s work in CO₂ transport and storage includes a phased approach over the next decade to meet emissions reduction targets, supported by the evolution of the CarbonSAFE program, which has 84 ongoing projects. Lastly, hydrogen with carbon management aims to create low-carbon power options, including resilient, flexible grid services at lower costs.

Beyond R&D, the DOE engages in policy and analysis, engagement and federal partnerships to drive climate change mitigation efforts across all these technology areas.

Claude Lorea: CCUS in the Cement Industry
Claude Lorea, Innovation and ESG Director at the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA), discussed the role of CCUS in decarbonising the cement industry. She emphasised the importance of concrete, one of the most widely used materials globally, and a critical component in climate resilience. However, as demand for concrete grows, so does the need to reduce its carbon footprint.

The GCCA’s Net Zero Roadmap and Net Zero Accelerator identify that 36% (1.3 Gt) of the required emissions reductions in the cement industry will depend on CCS. Over the past three years, the number of CCS projects in the cement sector has surged, with 58 projects underway and a combined capacity of around 25 million metric tons (Mt).

Lorea emphasized the importance of financing in supporting the transition to low-carbon cement, referencing initiatives like the UNIDO chain reaction and vision for finance motivation, which aims to motivate financial stakeholders. International collaboration is another key element (recognised not only in this particular technical plenary but across numerous sessions throughout GHGT-17), as international partnerships will be crucial for the cement industry to meet its emissions targets.

The GCCA continues to be a driving force for CCUS deployment in the cement sector, pushing for both innovation and international cooperation to achieve sustainable growth.