Chart: Which sectors are the largest industry…

Reducing emissions from these two subsectors is extremely complicated, but entirely possible. Consider, for example, the production of ethylene.

Ethylene is a key ingredient in many chemicals used in everyday items, including diapers, fabrics, mattresses, plastic bags and PVC Pipes. Currently, the production of ethylene requires ​““breaking apart” hydrocarbon molecules, which involves burning huge amounts of fossil gas to heat giant furnaces to scorching temperatures.

Several high-profile initiatives are underway around the world to electrify the ethylene cracking process, including a project in Houston. One of the many technical obstacles facing engineers is the fact that ethylene production plants are extremely energy-intensive. The average energy consumption of a full-sized electric cracker can be as much as 350 Down 400 megawatts, experts say.

Other, broader challenges facing chemical producers and oil refiners include the sheer size and complexity of their facilities and the fact that companies produce low-cost goods in highly competitive global markets. Moreover, many products are manufactured using specialized methods, which means it is more difficult to design a universal solution to reduce emissions.

““Making methanol is different from making ethylene than making any other product,” said Ben King, associate director of Rhodium Group’s energy and climate practice and lead author of the report.

Overall, however, industrial manufacturers currently have two potential paths to reducing industrial emissions. First, they can install systems to capture the carbon dioxide they remove CON₂ from waste gases from the existing facility and then permanently separated CON₂ underground or use it to produce commodity products. Secondly, they can replace conventionally produced hydrogen – produced using fossil gas – with another ​““clean hydrogen” produced using renewable electricity and water.

““It really takes a lot of work to understand how certain types of decarbonization technologies can be applied,” King said. ​“Is carbon capture possible in this part of the industrial sector, or is there a chance for (clean) hydrogen? It’s a complex set of considerations.”