Industry plays a major role in carbon emissions: 23% of emissions in France come from industry and the construction sector. It is therefore, by nature, at the heart of actions linked to the fight against climate change. The decarbonization of this sector has become an even more important priority given the legitimate ambitions of European countries to reindustrialize.
Manufacturers are thus pushed by the reality of global warming, by public authorities and by their consumers, to commit to decarbonization in a significant way. Although this sector is strongly encouraged, it is up to it to imagine the path of transformation and, thus, to take the risk by often moving forward as a pioneer in a new direction. Indeed, the transition to renewables can involve high upfront costs and supply challenges. Here again, making the right strategic choices is the condition for success. Manufacturers also face technological constraints. Certain heavy industries such as steel depend on intensive, carbon-intensive production processes for which there are not yet fully decarbonized workaround solutions.
The same goes for carbon capture, storage and recovery technologies, making it possible to reduce CO2 emissions from the most polluting industries. Examples include the use of decarbonized hydrogen such as the reduction of iron ore, or even biomass technologies.
Technological limits and investments are challenges to be overcome. Industries will therefore have to change their economic model to adapt and change paradigm: no longer produce in volume at lower cost, but emit less CO2 at lower cost. With, as a result, the acquisition of a highly differentiating experience curve. Differentiating, because as always, the first to take the turn will embark towards a responsible economy and above all, they will acquire a competitive advantage by occupying a position that has become irrevocable; since beyond the ecological or economic aspect, the difference will be based on image issues.
The challenge faced through this issue
In a framework involving numerous technological limits and changes in economic models, by what strategic and operational means can industries respond to the challenges of decarbonization?
What Yélé Consulting believes in
At Yélé Consulting, we are driven by the certainty that the decarbonization of industry is a necessary step in the energy transition and will only become reality through the following axes:
Access to carbon-free energy: industries need a reliable and affordable source of energy to maintain their operations.
The development of alternative technologies: if the development of alternative technologies requires significant investments in R&D, they will certainly succeed, but here too, if success is at the end of the road, the latter must be informed
Increasing the production of renewable energies: to promote the decarbonization of industry, major projects are currently in development. These projects aim to increase the production of renewable energy
The modernization of electrical networks: to meet the future electricity consumption of industries, the transport of biomass, hydrogen and CO2 will also have to be put in place. The organization of hydrogen production « hubs », its distribution as well as the construction of « carbon pipelines » to transport CO2 will play an essential role in the decarbonization of industry, as will the establishment of the railway. t was for the beginning of the industrial era.
What Yélé Consulting offers its clients
Convinced of the need for decarbonization, Yélé Consulting supports its clients in seizing technological opportunities by developing and deploying carbon strategies that are adequate, effective, realistic and consistent with the strategic positioning of our clients.