Author: Dwayne Pattison
We humans manufacture a lot of things, don’t we? And because of this, any innovation in the “how” we make products can have a large impact on reducing carbon emissions.
In this installment of the Climate Insider Market Maps, we look at climate technologies in Industry. In our taxonomy, this segment is diverse and includes most types of production, including steel and concrete, chemicals, plastics, textiles, electronics and batteries, fertilizers and climate technologies themselves (e.g. wind turbines, solar panels and hydrogen).
Be sure to check out the other Climate Insider Market Maps in our series:
Market Map – Industry
Traditional manufacturing processes with high carbon emissions are being reimagined thanks to innovative startups and the integration of new technologies. These opportunities for lowering emissions include developing and utilizing:
- New energy sources
- Energy efficiencies
- Alternative feedstocks
- New production processes
These innovations are not just about reducing energy consumption, they are redefining the materials and methods used across industries. From developing materials with lower carbon footprints to pioneering carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies, startups are a key part of the movement towards a greener industrial landscape.
Startups and established companies are developing technologies and processes in all areas of manufacturing. The market map highlights companies active in these key industries:
- Steel
- Concrete
- Fertilizer
- Hydrogen
- Plastics
- Chemicals
- Textiles
- Electronics and Batteries
Other features on this map include:
New processes and optimization
Companies are developing new processes that are applicable to more than one of the above industries. Startups are also providing analytical services geared towards manufacturers to help them reduce carbon emissions in their production processes or throughout the supply chain.
Mining
We take a step upstream in the manufacturing process to look at where many of the inputs are sourced from and how they are produced. As we rely more on climate technologies requiring lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements (to name a few), the need for sustainable mining practices becomes paramount.
Innovative practices and the recycling of metals are crucial to ensure that the environmental benefits of climate technologies are not undermined by the processes used to obtain their raw materials. The companies highlighted are not typical mining majors or juniors, but startups that are exploring new technologies that look to reduce the environmental impact of the sector. Here we see that mining practices are being transformed. Remote sensing technologies, new liberation techniques, and the electrification of mining equipment, for example, are reducing emissions in mineral exploration and extraction.
CO2 as an Input
As discussed below, carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) is a key technology being considered within manufacturing. In the next market map on Carbon Management, we delve deeper into CCUS technologies. However, in this map, we wanted to highlight the “utilization” part as it emerges as a key focus for many manufacturing companies, particularly for chemical production.
Climate Insider is following the research. See the exciting study ongoing at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory on carbon capture batteries.
Other Segments
As we do in all our maps, we also wanted to show the spillover into other segments. The boxes we create do not always nicely house the companies placed in them. CCUS is one. The biotechnology industry that we put in the taxonomy under Food and Agriculture, is important for developing alternative feedstocks for textiles and chemicals. And certainly fertilizers are key products for the ag sector. Waste and the circular economy also have a large influence on manufacturing; the central principle being that waste becomes a feedstock for the production of new products.
Key Technologies
The startups in the map (and many more not featured here) are transforming these industries by applying one or more of the following technologies or processes:
Electrification
Electrification is a big component for manufacturers which involves replacing processes that typically use fossil fuels with those powered by electricity. This transition plays a key role in many companies’ net zero plans.
More specifically, the electrification of heat is essential as heating is a major energy consumer and emitter of greenhouse gases in industrial processes. Others are swapping out equipment. The steel industry is witnessing a shift towards Electric Arc Furnaces (EAFs). From drying processes in textile manufacturing to high-temperature reactions in chemical synthesis, electrification can also drastically reduce carbon emissions in these sectors, if the electricity is sourced from renewables.
Check out the research on using solar to generate high industrial process heat ongoing at ETH Zurich.
Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS)
CCUS involves capturing carbon dioxide emissions at their source, transporting them, and either using them to create other products or storing them underground to prevent them from entering the atmosphere.
It can play a key role in manufacturing products. For example, chemical manufacturers are exploring ways to utilize captured CO2 as a raw material to produce methanol, urea, and other chemicals, thereby transforming CO2 from a waste product into a valuable feedstock. Integrating captured CO2 into concrete can not only store carbon but also enhance the material properties of concrete, such as its strength and durability. Blue hydrogen is produced using typical processing methods but the carbon emissions are captured using a range of capture technologies.
Energy Efficiency Technologies
Improving energy efficiency is a universal goal across all industrial sectors. Technologies that enhance energy efficiency include advanced heat exchangers, improved insulation materials, and more efficient electrical systems. These technologies reduce the amount of energy needed for production, thus lowering the carbon footprint.
In fertilizer production, heat recovery systems can utilize the excess heat generated to power other operations, significantly reducing energy consumption. For the production of textiles, high-efficiency boilers and steam systems can cut down energy use in the dyeing and finishing processes, which are notably energy-intensive. Developing more efficient catalysts can lead to processes that require less energy and produce fewer byproducts. Innovations in catalysts are crucial for enhancing the sustainability of chemical reactions and for the creation of greener pathways for chemical synthesis.
Process Optimization/Analytics
Leveraging digital technologies to optimize industrial processes can lead to significant reductions in energy use and emissions. This includes the use of AI and machine learning for predictive maintenance, process control, and energy management. Whether it is controlling the mix and curing in concrete production, optimizing the reaction conditions in chemical manufacturing, or improving supply chain logistics in textile production, digital tools can enhance efficiency and reduce waste.
As is the case in the other segments, startups are at the forefront of integrating advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain to optimize manufacturing processes.
Renewable Energy Integration
Directly integrating renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydro into industrial operations can significantly reduce dependence on fossil fuels. This is applicable in all sectors where electricity or heat is a major part of the production process.
Sustainable Raw Materials
Transitioning to sustainable or recycled raw materials reduces the overall environmental impact of products. This shift is crucial in industries like textiles and concrete.Using organic or recycled fibers cuts down on water and energy use, as well as chemical pollution. Less carbon-intensive materials for concrete production, such as those using recycled materials or novel composites, can reduce the need for raw materials and lower the carbon intensity of cement. Using recycled metals and other materials in battery and electronics manufacturing reduces reliance on virgin resources. Organic electronics is an emerging area that uses materials that are potentially less harmful to the environment. Many organic materials can be synthesized from biomass, reducing reliance on non-renewable resources such as metals and rare earth elements. As an example, organic photovoltaics (OPVs) offer a more flexible and potentially cheaper alternative to traditional silicon-based solar cells.
Interesting work on organic semiconductors is taking place at the Linköping University in Sweden.
Hydrogen
Hydrogen is again a unique segment and its various applications will be discussed in more detail in a market map down the road. However, it already plays a prominent role in manufacturing. The integration of green hydrogen, produced from renewable energy sources, is set to change industries by decarbonizing processes that were traditionally heavy polluters, such as steel. It is also a key input in the production of ammonia – an important fertilizer for farmers and a fuel option for shipping. It can be used as a raw material, a reducing agent, and an energy source in various chemical processes, replacing fossil fuels.
To stay informed about the climate industry explore our latest climate news.
Companies on the Map
Aepnus Technology
Aether
Afyren
Again
Air Company
ALGIECEL
Ammobia
Anodyne Chemistries
Antora Energy
Applied Bioplastics
BeFC
Betolar
Biotic
BioZen Batteries
Biozeroc
Boston Metal
Braincube
Brilliant Matters
Calix
Capra Biosciences
CarbiCrete
Carbix
Carbmee
Carbon Re
CarbonBuilt
Cascade Biocatalysts
Cemvita Factory
Ceres
Chement
Circ
Co2L
concrete.ai
Cozero
Credoxys
Cyclize
Daphne Technology
Dioxycle
Disa Technologies
Earth AI
Ecocem
ecolectro
Electra
Electric Hydrogen
Element Zero
Emvolon
Epishine
etalytics
Gravity Climate
Green Hydrogen Systems
Greenmantra Technologies
H2 Green Steel
Heaten
HeiQ AeoniQ
Heliatek
Hy2gen
Hystar
ITM Power
Jupiter Ionics
Kanin Energy
Keel Labs (fka AlgiKnit)
KoBold Metals
Limelight Steel
LivNSense GreenOps PVT LTD
LL Material Factory
Loop Industries
Lydian
Made of Air
Magrathea
Materials Nexus
McPhy
Mi Terro
Minus Materials
Mixteresting
Modern Meadow
Morrow Batteries
NatureWorks
Ndustrial
Nebeskie
NeoWaste
Net0
Nitrofix
Nitrovolt
Nium
Novoloop
Oxylum
Ozone Bio
Plastus Biotech
Rivus Batteries
Rockburst Technologies
Rushnu
Senergetics
Sensore
Seramic
Solmeyea
Solugen
Spintex
STÄMM
Suena
Sunfire
Sway
Tômtex
Tsubame BHB
TVARIT
Twelve
Unravel Carbon
Vaisala
Verkor
ViridiCO2
ViridiCO2
Warden Machinery
