Blog posts
Aluminium production and CCS/U: A reality check
Aluminium production remains challenging to decarbonise. This brief examines the limited potential of Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCS/U) in the sector and explores alternative approaches that may offer more effective emissions reductions.
Towards a minimum recycled steel content in passenger cars: setting an initial target
The EU has around 286 million motor vehicles, and every year, 6.5 million of these are scrapped. If the steel scrap from these end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) is not managed well, valuable resources are lost, harming the environment. With the EU preparing its ELV Regulation, which could set targets for minimum recycled steel content for passenger cars : what should those targets be?
In or Out: What’s best for carbon removals and the EU ETS?
What will the future of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) look like as the emissions cap heads towards zero? Is integrating carbon dioxide removals (CDRs) into the ETS a solution to help the EU achieve its climate goals? Or would they compromise the integrity and functioning of the system? These questions are at the forefront of the Commission’s mind as they review different options for the future of the ETS ahead of the 2026 revision.
For a systematic use of default values in the CBAM
The current carbon emissions reporting in the CBAM fails to achieve its goal of replacing free allocations under the EU ETS and undermines its integrity. A systematic default value system would improve the CBAM and safeguard the EU ETS.
CBAM DRI loophole requires new free allocation reform
We took part in a targeted survey run by the European Commission’s DG TAXUD on methodologies used to calculate embedded emissions and the rules for adjusting CBAM obligations alongside free allocation under the ETS. Our proposal: free allocation should be reformed to close the ‘DRI loophole’.
Feedback on the EU Commission’s draft methodology for low-carbon hydrogen
For ‘low carbon’ hydrogen to truly make a positive contribution to Europe’s transition to climate neutrality, the safeguards put in place must be meaningful. Unfortunately, this does not appear to be the case in this draft delegated act.
Metallurgical flexibility: Enabling the aluminium and steel sectors for demand response
Electrification and flexibility are critical to decarbonising both industrial and electricity systems. But what happens when we combine the two? Industrial flexibility will play an increasingly important role as industry moves towards electrification.
A closer look at 2023 emissions: steelmaking caused a quarter of industry pollution
This brief analyses 2023 emissions under the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), using the latest data available from the EU Transaction Log (EUTL) . It particularly focuses on the iron and steel sector.