Heavy Industry Low Carbon Transition Cooperative Research Centre Takeaways

By Max van Someren

Three quotes from this week’s Heavy Industry Low Carbon Transition Cooperative Research Centre (HILT CRC) annual conference stood out for me:

"If you're not a pessimist [on decarbonisation of heavy industry] you don't understand the numbers... but if you're not an optimist, you don't understand the capacity for innovation".

Deep decarbonisation of industry has significant financial challenges to overcome…. but innovation is tackling these, and HILT CRC is central to supporting this.

"Supply side support generatives activity, demand side support develops outcomes".

The implication is that policy measures that grow demand for a low carbon product should be the priority, where these are possible. However the speaker went on to explain how in some situations (such as export dominated industries), a government has very little contol over the demand side, so will by necessity turn to supply side support instead.

"We are an energy business, not an aluminium business".

Success for many large industries in future will rest on their ability to source and use energy to maximum effect, placing energy at the heart of their operational decision making.

A fantastic event – thanks to the HILT CRC team for putting on a good show and attracting such an interesting and broad range of speakers.

It was great to represent Bivios, and we look forwards to continuing our support of HILT CRC in future.