Decarbonizing the ceramics industry: A systematic and critical review of policy options, developments and sociotechnical systems. (April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Furszyfer Del Rio, Dylan D.; Sovacool, Benjamin K.; Foley, Aoife M.; Griffiths, Steve; Bazilian, Morgan; Kim, Jinsoo; Rooney, David
• Is Part Of: Renewable & sustainable energy reviews. Volume 157(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-04
• Subjects: Climate change -- Climate mitigation -- Ceramics -- Industrial decarbonization -- Net-zero -- Energy policy -- Ceramics manufacturing -- Ceramic processes -- Sustainability transitions -- Innovation; BAT Best available technology -- BEIS Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy -- CCS Carbon capture and storage -- CAGR Compound annual growth rate -- CO2 Carbon dioxide -- CO2e Carbon dioxide equivalent -- DECC Department of Energy and Climate Change -- EU European Union -- IEA International Energy Agency -- HAP Hazardous air pollutant -- HPHE Heat pipe heat exchanger -- MtCO2 Metric tons of carbon dioxide -- O3 Tropospheric ozone -- PM Particulate matter -- SPS Spark plasma sintering -- TOE Tonne of oil equivalent -- TOC Total organic compounds -- VOC Volatile organic compounds -- WHR Waste heat recovery -- WTE Waste to Energy; Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; Énergies renouvelables -- Périodiques; Ressources énergétiques -- Périodiques; 333.794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2022.112081
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1364-0321

Abstract

Abstract: Ceramics are considered one of the greatest and earliest most useful successes of humankind. However, ceramics can be highly damaging to natural and social systems during their lifecycle, from material extraction to waste handling. For example, each year in the EU, the manufacture of ceramics (e.g., refractories, wall and floor tiles and bricks and roof tile) emit 19 Mt CO2, while globally, bricks manufacturing is responsible for 2.7% of carbon emissions annually. This critical and systematic review seeks to identify alternatives to mitigate the climate effects of ceramics products and processes to make their lifecycle more sustainable. This article reviews 324 studies to answer the following questions: what are the main determinants of energy and carbon emissions emerging from the ceramics industry? What benefits will this industry amass from adopting more low-carbon processes in manufacturing their products, and what barriers will need to be tackled? We employ a sociotechnical approach to answer these questions, identify barriers to decarbonise the ceramics industry, and present promising avenues for future research. In doing so, we show that environmental and energy challenges associated with the ceramics industry are not just limited to the manufacturing stage but also relate to the extraction of raw materials, waste disposal, and landfilling. Highlights: This review identifies carbon-intensive processes in the ceramics industry. Presents decarbonizing innovations, practices, and potential transformations. Presents promising avenues for future research. No agreed consensus on the most promising technologies to achieve net-zero in the ceramics industry.