Wendy Lam, CEO of Capsol Technologies, brings over 20 years of experience in industrial tech to the table. She dives into the pivotal role of carbon capture in achieving climate goals and discusses the groundbreaking bio-energy carbon capture plant in Stockholm. The conversation touches on the European Clean Industrial Deal's impact, navigating carbon pricing, and innovations like potassium carbonate methods. With a mix of insights and a fun game on energy transition concepts, Wendy highlights the future of decarbonization and sustainable industries.
Carbon capture technology is essential for mitigating emissions from hard-to-transition industries like cement production that significantly contribute to global warming.
Government policies and market incentives are crucial for promoting carbon capture adoption, enabling businesses to pursue low-carbon strategies competitively.
Deep dives
The Importance of Carbon Capture
Carbon capture is crucial in mitigating the significant emissions produced by various industrial sectors, particularly those that are hard to transition to renewable alternatives, such as cement production. For instance, a single cement plant can emit around 100,000 tons of CO2 each month, contributing immensely to global warming. Existing decarbonization solutions alone cannot address all emissions, which makes carbon capture a necessary technology for achieving climate targets. Companies like Capsule Technologies are focused on deploying proven carbon capture technology to address these challenges effectively.
Sector-Specific Opportunities and Challenges
Certain sectors have a greater need for carbon capture solutions due to the nature of their emissions. Cement is highlighted as one of the hardest sectors to decarbonize because of its inherent chemical processes that release CO2 during production, making alternatives difficult to implement. Capsule Technologies is also exploring opportunities in gas turbine emissions, where emissions concentration makes capture challenging. By addressing these difficulties, the firm aims to offer solutions that can not only reduce emissions but also generate additional energy, thus providing economic benefits.
The Role of Policy and Market Incentives
Government policies and market incentives play a critical role in driving the adoption of carbon capture technologies. The European Union’s initiatives, such as the emissions trading system, aim to create a financial landscape that encourages companies to pursue carbon reduction actively. Businesses are increasingly motivated not just by compliance, but by competitiveness, as evidenced by a cement company securing buyers willing to pay a premium for low-carbon products. This growing market for low-carbon solutions demonstrates the potential for integrating carbon capture technologies into broader industrial frameworks.
This week on Energy Unplugged, we’re delighted to welcome Wendy Lam, CEO of Capsol Technologies. She joined our Head of Nordics & Baltics, Alexander Esser, to discuss the future of industrial decarbonisation.
Wendy is an experienced technology leader with more than 20 years’ experience at major international industrial companies and has a proven track record of driving growth, developing strategic partnerships, and commercializing new technologies worldwide. Now, she leads Capsol Technologies, a carbon capture technology provider. They license their technology to Stockholm’s Värtaverket, which will be Europe’s first large-scale bio-energy carbon capture and storage, BECCS, plant when operational.
Main topics include the following:
The role of carbon capture in meeting climate goals
The implications of the Clean Industrial Deal for industry and investment
Real-world projects, including Europe’s first large-scale negative emissions plant
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode