While investment in clean technology is growing rapidly, forecasts show that annual investments fall drastically short of what is required to achieve net zero by 2050.
The industrial sector is one of the highest contributors to global emissions. Reducing emissions in the sector presents one of the most significant challenges to worldwide decarbonization and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.
As the global economy grows and demand for industrial products (such as steel and cement) increases, industrials are looking to introduce decarbonization technologies to support emissions reduction efforts.
According to global intelligence firm ABI Research, the decarbonization technologies market is expected to grow from US$1.45 trillion in 2022 to US$4.09 trillion in 2032, growing at a CAGR of 10.93%.
“The decarbonization technology market is being Driven by exponentially increasing annual investments, decreasing costs of renewable energy infrastructure and growing global commitments from industrial companies to reduce emissions and develop sustainable products,” said Alex McQueen, Research Analyst at ABI Research.
“Regulation has also been a key market driver for decarbonization technologies. Europe, for example, has established its Green Deal Industrial Plan, which lays out steps to implement technologies required to cut the sector’s carbon emissions.”
The industrial decarbonization technology market is led by the growth of electrification technologies, including renewable energy and industrial electric machinery.
The report says these account for a significant 71.5% of the market in 2022 and are expected to contribute most of the emissions reduction needed to reach net zero.
Renewable energy consumption globally continues to grow as infrastructure costs decrease and the current energy crisis deteriorates the cost-competitiveness of fossil fuels.
Energy efficiency technologies, such as energy storage and management systems, hold the second largest market share at 23.6%, followed by low-carbon fuels at 4.6% and carbon capture, utilization and storage at 0.3%.
Companies such as Honeywell, Shell and Siemans are globally leading suppliers of decarbonization technologies for the industrial sector.
In addition, the market is seeing an increasing number of companies focusing on developing innovative clean technologies and products. These include Air Liquide, Baker Hughes, CarbonCure Technologies, Li-Cycle and SSAB.
But the report reveals that while investment in clean technology is growing rapidly, forecasts show that annual investments fall Drastically short of what is required to achieve net zero by 2050. This lack of investment in project funding and R&D means critical technologies, such as energy storage and carbon capture, lack the necessary development to contribute meaningful emission reductions.
“Decarbonizing the industrial sector will require a major increase in global green tech investment as well as stronger policy incentives to scale up commercial availability and affordability of these technologies. Necessary emissions reduction will only be achieved through close collaboration with governments, industrials, and technology suppliers,” said McQueen.
