China looks to carbon capture and hydrogen to push aviation, shipping, power plants, heavy industries towards 2060 target
- Nine of every 10 vehicles on China’s roads will have to run on non-fossil fuels, while half of aircraft will fly on green hydrogen to put China on track to cutting carbon emissions by 75 to 85 per cent, leaving the residual amount to be offset by removals
- 90 per cent of heavy industries will need to be retrofitted with carbon capture facilities
The fourth part of a series on China’s carbon neutrality goal examines the heavy lifting that must be done by the country’s biggest carbon dioxide emitters to reach that target by 2060. Earlier instalments of the series are here, here and here.
Nine of every 10 vehicles on China’s roads will have to run on non-fossil fuel, while half of the aircraft fly on green hydrogen and 90 per cent of heavy industries will need to be retrofitted with carbon capture facilities to put the nation on track to cut carbon emission by 75 to 85 per cent, leaving the residual amount to be offset by removals, according to the Boston Consulting Group (BCG).
“Some of the technologies required, such as carbon capture and storage and [emission-free] hydrogen fuel are not [commercially] ready yet,” said Thomas Palme, who leads BCG’s social impact practice in China, adding that it can only be possible “with concerted effort and investment.”
China’s coal and gas-fired power plants are responsible for almost half of the nation’s carbon dioxide emission, while heavy industries – including the world’s largest capacity for steel, aluminium, petrochemicals and cement – contribute one-third, BCG said.
