Decarb Connect

Cemex Ventures is one of a number of high-profile CVCs who are investing to bring innovation into their companies – but also with an view to decarbonising energy-intensive processes. Gonzalo Galindo, President of Cemex Ventures, talks about their investment strategy with a particular focus on renewables and how even the most energy-intensive chemical and combustion processes can make use of emerging tech in this space.  With the average decarb pilot in harder-to-abate sectors costing $8-10m, we explore how they identify key technologies, the investment and JV process that they employ and we look specifically at their investment in SynHelion – bringing solar power to kiln operations.  8% of global emissions are linked to cement and concrete production – and with global infrastructure and development projects on the increase, decarbonising this most commonly used material is essential. If you’re interested in how a leading cement producer is tackling the challenge, listen in – lots to take away on investment strategy, technical opportunities and industrial climate strategy.  Links: -          Find out more about Cemex Ventures and their portfolio  -          Learn about SynHelion and the opportunity for solar power in energy-intensive sectors -          Connect to Alex and find out about our upcoming Decarb Connect Europe summit focused on decarbonising energy-intensive sectors Interested in Decarb Connect’s work across the energy-intensive sectors? Find out more here: www.decarbconnect.com. Our global platform helps accelerate industrial decarbonization around the globe. We do this by facilitating collaborations across the emerging decarbonization ecosystem - bringing together industrials (cement, metals and mining, glass, ceramics, chemicals, O&G), technology disruptors, investors and advisors. Through our membership platform, the Decarbonization Leaders Network (DLN), we gather a cross sector gathering of energy-intensive industries to share insights and experiences from those leading industrial decarbonization. Many thanks to Sassy and the team at Janno Media for their production of this series.  

Houston is not just the ideological center of the energy sector in the US but also in the region around it houses a large proportion of the US’s petchem and industrial complex. In this conversation, Alex talks with Brett Perlman, CEO of the Center for Houston’s Future about how stakeholders from across the city and greater Houston area are coming together to create the projects that could transform Houston’s economy, and move it from fossil fuels to hubs focused on hydrogen, ccus, electrification and circular economy. Lots to talk about here, from collaborations to lessons learned from other regions and countries.  Links: https://www.centerforhoustonsfuture.org/ https://bit.ly/market-assessment-houstons-future Interested in Decarb Connect’s work across the energy-intensive sectors? Find out more about our platform here: www.decarbconnect.com. We focus on the acceleration of industrial decarbonization around the globe. We do this by facilitating collaborations across the emerging decarbonization ecosystem - bringing together industrials (cement, metals and mining, glass, ceramics, chemicals, O&G), technology disruptors, investors and advisors. Through our membership platform, the Decarbonization Leaders Network (DLN), we gather a cross sector gathering of energy-intensive industries to share insights and experiences from those leading industrial decarbonization. Many thanks to Sassy at Janno Media for her support of this series. 

With up to 51% of energy generated for industrial use being wasted, disruptors across the ecosystem are tackling that stat in different ways. Mihir talks about the opportunity for tackling one part of this – the waste pressure that is created throughout pipeline infrastructure, power generation and industrial processes and the potential for converted it into clean energy. As well as looking at the market opportunity, the conversation also looks to the benefits in decarbonization and ESG terms that projects of this type can have. Links: Find out more about Mihir Desu and the team at Pressure Corp. You’ll have the opportunity to meet with Mihir at Decarb Connect North America, March 29-31 2022, in Houston:  https://decarbconnect.com/events/decarb-connect-north-america/Interested in Decarb Connect? Find out more about our work here: www.decarbconnect.com. We focus on the acceleration of industrial decarbonization around the globe. We do this by facilitating collaborations across the emerging decarbonization ecosystem - bringing together industrials (cement, metals and mining, glass, ceramics, chemicals, O&G), technology disruptors, investors and advisors. Through our membership platform, the Decarbonization Leaders Network (DLN), we gather a cross sector gathering of energy-intensive industries to share insights and experiences from those leading industrial decarbonization. Many thanks to Sassy at Janno Media for her support of this series. 

Houston, known for being the oil and gas capital of the US, is fast becoming a key centre of gravity for clean tech and energy transition IP. Syzygy is one of a number of early-stage disruptors calling the city their home, and we were fortunate to have Trevor Best, CEO, in conversation with Alex to talk about their photocatalysis technology and route to industrial scale.  Listen in to hear about the applications for their novel catalyst and reactor platform, including production of clean hydrogen at ambient temperatures plus co2 reuse and ammonia production. This is technology which has the potential to be highly cost effective at scale because it can avoid the need for high industrial heat in core processes.  We talk about their scale up journey to date, their fundraising (just under $40m to date) and the industrial applications in steel, chemical and many of the harder to abate sectors.  LinksTo learn about Syzygy the team: https://plasmonics.tech/To learn about our work at Decarb Connect: https://decarbconnect.comYou’ll have the opportunity to meet with Trevor, and learn more about his teams work, at Decarb Connect North America, March 29-31 2022, in Houston:  https://decarbconnect.com/events/decarb-connect-north-america/ Decarb Connect focuses on the acceleration of industrial decarbonization around the globe. We do this by facilitating collaborations across the emerging decarbonization ecosystem - bringing together industrials (cement, metals and mining, glass, ceramics, chemicals, O&G), technology disruptors, investors and advisors.  Through our membership platform, the Decarbonization Leaders Network (DLN), we gather a cross sector gathering of energy-intensive industries to share insights and experiences from those leading industrial decarbonization.  Through our live meetings, we bring hard-to-reach insights and data to the table and we facilitate valuable collaborations and introductions – all with the goal of accelerating decarbonisation. Contact us to learn more or to get involved in the podcast series: hello@decarbconnect.comMany thanks to Sassy at Janno Media for her support of this series.  

InterContinental Energy focuses on both renewable projects of scale and the triple bottom line of their projects. Join Alex and Alicia Eastman to explore the origin of their mega-scale project structures and the opportunity to convert renewables to hydrogen and ammonia for use in industrial and maritime environments. They talk about how large projects act as market makers, why in-country value brings long term value to the project owners and investors – and we look at the opportunity to create green products that give industry and transport real options for decarbonization within the next 5-8 years. Show Links: https://intercontinentalenergy.com/green-fuelshttps://decarbconnect.com/insights/ Join us in Houston (March 29-31 2022) or Amsterdam (June 21-23 2022) to meet the market makers and leaders of industrial decarbonization.  As always - many thanks to Sassy and the team at Janno Media for their support with our podcast series. 

Will Gardiner has been a key architect of Drax Group's strategy to create a flexible, low-carbon, customer-focused power company. Alex and Will talk about the results from COP26, but also what’s needed next to keep the goal of 1.5 alive. They explore a little of what’s needed from international policy, how Drax’s global operations are expanding to meet the decarbonization opportunity and Will’s thoughts on renewables, voluntary carbon markets and the need for more support of permanent removal technologies. https://www.drax.com/carbon-capture/what-are-negative-emissions/www.decarbconnect.comTo see Will’s panel discussion from the Decarb Connect Festival (Jan 22) get in touch. Thanks to Janno Media of their podcast production and support.

With governments and markets taking different approaches to industrial decarbonization around the world, Nick Fulford joins Alex Cameron to talk about the different challenges those approaches are yielding and how the US/Canadian approach is unfolding.  They explore the North American focus on market forces, the impact of 45Q and other incentives and also look at how business models could emerge in CCUS and other tech despite the challenges that lie ahead.  Now based in Houston, Nick brings a perspective of the EU market too and plenty of knowledge of Gas/LNG and Carbon Management. He is renowned as a leading Global LNG expert who has closely been involved in the US gas markets since the late 1980s and again more deeply since 2008 with the rise of the US shale gas boom.  In recent years, Nick has engaged with the emerging Energy Transition impacts on energy markets globally. Show links:  https://www.gaffneycline.com/carbon-capture-use-and-storage-ccus-project-evaluations Nick will be speaking at Decarb Connect North America, March 29-31 in Houston. For more info, see our website: https://decarbconnect.com/events/decarb-connect-north-america/Thanks to Janno Media for their technical support 

Craig Golinowski of Carbon Infrastructure Partners discussions the need for other tech to balance out renewables so that we avoid further energy crises and allow for a full transition. Is CCUS the radical middle ground?   Summary: Craig Golinowski joins Alex to talk about the concept of the carbon paradox, and what role CCUS needs to play in the energy transition. Find out about the concept of the paradox being seen in the transition to renewables where, without solving intermittency and other short-medium term challenges, energy stability can be put at risk and may lead to more use of heavy emitting fuels as ‘patches’ to the energy system. Listen in as Alex and Craig discuss this, the market demand for CCS and the market model for CCS as a utility.  Show links: https://carboninfrastructurepartners.com/www.decarbconnect.comThanks to Janno Media for their production assistance. Book your ticket for the Decarb Connect Festival which focuses solely on global approaches to industrial decarbonization festival in January 2022 – see our website. 

 Listen in and explore the momentum being seen right now, with more than 70% of global GDP covered by a net zero target, and the routes critical industries are taking to decarbonize. You’ll hear thoughts on the innovative mechanisms that global capital markets and policy are developing, and you’ll get his insights on the urgent need for huge amounts of zero carbon electricity and infrastructure to support essential solutions.  Lord Turner has a background spanning the corporate world, played a key part in tackling the financial crisis and was the original chairman of the Climate Change Committee: A great guest to drive energy and intention into our 2022 plans.  Show links: https://www.energy-transitions.org/https://www.energy-transitions.org/publications/the-net-zero-steel-sector-transition-strategy/ Lord Turner will be speaking at Decarb Connect’s Festival, which digs into the decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries, in January 2022: https://bit.ly/Decarb_FestivalThanks to Janno Media for their technical partnership

Join Alex and Ben for part two of their conversation exploring how Origen’s Zero Carbon Lime technology is being applied at a plant in the UK. You’ll explore the tech itself, the project timeline and hear about the short and long term co2 offtake plans. You’ll also explore the way in which zero carbon lime could be used as a carbon capture tool in future. Links: https://origencarbonsolutions.com/news-updates/www.decarbconnect.comThanks to Janno Media for the technical partnership.