Introducing Mat-dp model tools
New paper from Karla Cervantes Barrón and Jonathan Cullen: Using open-source tools to project bulk and critical material demand and assess implications for low-carbon energy and transport systems:...
Publications
Machine learning for gap-filling in greenhouse gas emissions databases
New paper evaluates the potential of machine learning methods to automate the completion of GHG datasets.
Reducing uncertainties in greenhouse gas emissions from chemical production
Uncertainties in greenhouse gas emissions estimates for petrochemical production have lacked quantification globally, impacting emissions reporting and decarbonization policymaking. Here we analyze cradle-to-gate emissions of 81 chemicals at...
Replacing Plastics with Alternatives Is Worse for Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Most Cases
Plastics are controversial due to their production from fossil fuels, emissions during production and disposal, potential toxicity, and leakage to the environment. In light of these concerns, calls...
Solutions for recycling emerging wind turbine blade waste in China are not yet effective
Wind power supply chains are evolving as markets expand to reach climate goals. With the largest installed wind power capacity globally, China must deal with increasing composite turbine...
Feasible supply of steel and cement within a carbon budget is likely to fall short of expected global demand
The current decarbonization strategy for the steel and cement industries is inherently dependent on the build-out of infrastructure, including for CO2 transport and storage, renewable electricity, and green hydrogen....
A critical review of plastics and circularity in automotive supply chains
Plastics are increasingly used in the automotive sector due to their mechanical properties and light weight. However, the automotive plastic supply chain is characterised by pollution, resource depletion,...
Mapping material use and embodied carbon in UK construction
The latest available high-level top-down analysis shows that the embodied carbon of UK construction in 2018 was 43 MtCO2e, of which 80% came from materials and on-site activities. In this...
Growing role of concrete in sand and climate crises
Takuma, Jonathan, Andre, and Zhi highlight the vast scale of growth in concrete demand and emissions over the last 30 years.
The geopolitics of critical materials and minerals and implications for the low-carbon transition
Critical materials are gaining attention in the conversation around sustainable energy transitions, but what are they, and why do they matter?