Decarbonizing Industrial Processes with Material Science
Jan 31, 2024
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Shreya Dave, CEO and Co-founder of Via Separations, discusses their material science approach to decarbonizing the industrial sector. Topics include the challenges faced, strategic partnerships, benefits of their technology, economic viability, expanding markets with carbon taxes, and advice for those interested in the climate space.
VIA Separations focuses on improving efficiency and fully electrifying industrial processes to reduce carbon emissions in the industrial sector.
VIA Separations' membrane filtration technology can significantly reduce both energy consumption and costs associated with industrial separation processes.
Deep dives
Key Point 1: Decarbonizing industrial processes involves three steps
In order to reduce carbon emissions in the industrial sector, the first step is to avoid unnecessary carbon emissions. The second step is to electrify processes, as electricity can be fully renewable or decarbonized. The third step is to replace current technologies with alternative options like hydrogen or carbon capture. VIA Separations focuses on the first two steps by improving efficiency and fully electrifying industrial processes.
Key Point 2: VIA Separations' technology replaces heat-based processes with membrane filtration
VIA Separations is a company that aims to reduce the energy needed for industrial separation processes. These processes, used in manufacturing pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, semiconductors, and chemicals, currently rely on heat-based methods like evaporators and distillation columns. VIA Separations replaces these methods with membrane filtration, which offers 90% energy savings, full electrification, and operational flexibility.
Key Point 3: Industrial separation accounts for significant energy consumption
Industrial separation processes are responsible for 15% of global energy consumption and make up 75% of the cost of producing raw materials or chemicals. VIA Separations' membrane filtration technology can significantly reduce both energy consumption and costs associated with separation processes.
Key Point 4: VIA Separations initially focuses on the pulp and paper industry
VIA Separations is launching their technology in the pulp and paper industry, where there is a high level of interest in reducing carbon emissions and achieving operational flexibility. By replacing heat-based processes in pulp and paper manufacturing, VIA Separations aims to reduce the industry's carbon footprint while providing economic benefits to manufacturers.
This episode continues Climate Rising's hard-to-abate series, and features Shreya Dave, CEO and Co-founder of Via Separations. Shreya describes how her company is decarbonizing the industrial sector by using material science to create a much less energy intensive and cheaper approach to separate substances, a common step in many industrial processes. Shreya talks about her company's journey, the challenges of market adoption, and the strategic partnerships that have been pivotal. She also shares some career advice.
Climate Rising Host: Professor Mike Toffel, Faculty Chair, Business & Environment Initiative
Guest: Shreya Dave, CEO and Co-Founder Via Separations