By: Dr. Mohamad Rezi Abdul Hamid

In 2022, global energy-related CO₂ emissions grew by 0.9%, reaching a record high of over 36.8 gigatonnes. While CO₂ emissions from industrial processes decline by 102 megatonnes, emissions from burning of fuels however continue to grow by ~1.3% to keep up with global energy needs. Currently over 85% of the global energy demand is being supported by the burning of fossil fuels. The reasons for this skewed reliance on fossil fuels as our primary energy source is due to the inherent energy density, abundance, and the economic dependence of modern society on the acquisition and trade of these resources. Key industrial sectors contribute significantly to these emissions. The cement industry, for instance, leads with 6.9 kg of CO₂ emitted per USD of revenue, followed by iron and steel (1.4 kg CO₂/USD), oil and gas (0.8 kg CO₂/USD), chemicals (0.4 kg CO₂/USD), and mining (0.3 kg CO₂/USD) (Source: McKinsey & Company). These sectors are vital pillars of the global economy but also major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions.

A groundbreaking technology is required to compete in the $2.2 trillion global carbon capture market to drive sustainability effort & environmental change. Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) is a key strategy for reducing harmful CO₂ emissions. Despite the development of various technologies, separation of CO₂ from gas streams remains a significant challenge, particularly when dealing with industrial flue gases. Membrane technology, while promising, faces hurdles in this context. Separations of CO₂ from the flue gas steam using membrane technology are challenging for a number of reasons. Firstly, flue gases contain low concentration of CO₂ (10–16 wt%) and are available only at atmospheric pressure providing insufficient driving force for permeation unless compression is applied. It is estimated that the rational pressure ratio for membrane system for post-combustion CO₂ capture applications is between 5 and 10, above which the entire process becomes economically unaffordable. Pressure ratio limited separation coupled with the sheer amount of flue gases to be treated mean that the membrane system requires large membrane area to perform the intended separations. Under these circumstances, highly productive membranes are desirable to cut down the required membrane area to retain market attractiveness.

To sum up, while the reliance on fossil fuels persists due to their energy density and economic significance, urgent innovation is needed to mitigate their environmental impact. Advancements in CCUS technologies, particularly in the development of high flux and CO₂-selective membranes, are critical steps toward achieving sustainable global energy practices.

Date of Input: 30/08/2024 | Updated: 03/07/2025 | puteriamirah