Page 182 - CW E-Magazine (29-7-2025)

Special Report Special Report

The role of specialty chemicals in advancing The role of carbon capture technology in solving

renewable energy technologies the climate crisis

INTRODUCTION RONIT SHARMA & ANMOL BALI s global temperatures continue Why it matters in 2025 RITHIK GUPTA
The world’s aim to lean towards Roots Analysis to rise and greenhouse gas Despite rapid growth in renewable Ingenious Brain
renewable power isn’t just about produc- Aemissions push past critical energy, global emissions are still rising. E-mail: rithik.gupta@iebrain.com
ing simpler energy, it’s a major attempt tery life. Further, thermal management thresholds, one solution is gaining seri- According to the International Energy
to revolutionize the entire industrial materials help in avoiding overheating ous momentum in climate and energy Agency (IEA), current efforts are in-  Policy and incentives are still deve-
system. This revolution is being fueled while the binders and conductive circles: carbon capture technology. suffi cient to meet the goals of the Paris loping. Stable carbon pricing, tax
by specialty chemicals, which are turn- additives improve battery performance. Once considered too expensive or futu- Agreement. Hard-to-abate sectors – credits, and emissions regulations
ing the landscape by providing high- self-cleaning coatings. This maxi- This also allows for recyclability. ristic, this technology is now emerg- such as aviation, shipping, cement, and will be essential for carbon capture
performance materials, performance mizes the light absorption and mini- ing as a practical, scalable tool in the petrochemicals – continue to emit large to scale effectively.
enhancers, and process aids required mizes the maintenance requirements. The high rate of expansion in the world’s fi ght against climate change. quantities of CO . That’s where carbon
for the new wave of renewable energy Latest trends in this domain have also electric vehicles sector as well as the capture comes in. 2 A complement, not a replacement
technologies. witnessed the emergence of specialty grid-scale storage systems is fueling the From government-led infrastruc- It’s important to understand that
polymers and nanomaterials, which are growing demand for modern materials. ture projects to direct air capture plants In 2025, we are seeing a global carbon capture technology is not a
With markets all over the world designed to achieve higher effi ciency backed by private investors, carbon ramp-up in CCUS (Carbon Capture, silver bullet. It doesn’t replace the need
speedily transitioning into sustainabi- and reduce production costs when Specialty chemicals and the bio- capture is no longer just a theory – it’s Utilization, and Storage) investments. for renewables, energy effi ciency, or
lity, specialty chemicals act as back- being used for future perovskite and based economy an active part of global decarbonisa- Major projects are moving from plan- behaviour change. Instead, it comple-
ground facilitators that promote effi - thin-fi lm solar cells. The incorporation of bio-based and tion efforts. But what exactly is it, ning to execution. In Norway, the ments those efforts – fi lling in critical
ciency, longevity, and innovation in waste-derived feedstocks into specialty and why is it being called one of the Northern Lights project is set to become gaps, especially in industries where
solar, wind, battery, and hydrogen tech- Wind energy chemical manufacture is emerging as a most important tools in the net-zero one of the world’s fi rst cross-border emissions are hard to eliminate.
nologies. Design and installation of wind tur- signifi cant trend. New-generation feed- toolbox? CO transport and storage networks. In
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bines depend signifi cantly on specialty stocks, including lignocellulosic bio- the United States, the Department of Think of it this way: just as seat
Specialty chemicals as facilitators of chemicals. Epoxy and polyurethane mass, algae, and even captured carbon What is carbon capture technology? Energy is funding several large-scale belts don’t replace the need for safe
renewable energy technologies resins are employed to produce light but dioxide (CO ) are being transformed Carbon capture technology refers DAC hubs. And in Asia, countries like driving, carbon capture doesn’t
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Specialty chemicals are signi- robust composite blades, making pos- into high-value polymers and chemi- to a range of methods that trap carbon Malaysia and Indonesia are exploring replace the need to cut fossil fuel
fi cantly designed to provide functions sible larger and more effi cient turbines. cals. This reduces the dependence on dioxide (CO ) emissions from indus- how depleted oil fi elds can be repur- use. But both are essential layers of
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which are frequently in small amounts Specialty adhesives are required to fossil resources while also enabling a trial sources or directly from the atmo- posed for long-term carbon storage. protection.
but have a great impact. Their functions securely fasten the huge segments of such circular bioeconomy. These develop- sphere. These systems prevent CO
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in the renewable energy sector vary blades. For resisting erosion, ultraviolet ments are not just responsible for from entering the atmosphere, either by Challenges still ahead CONCLUSION
from improving material properties to radiation and salt spray, protective coat- decreasing carbon footprints but for storing it underground or reusing it in While the promise of carbon cap- Carbon capture technology is no
simplifying manufacturing processes to ings are used. All these help in extend- also establishing new value streams for industrial applications such as concrete ture is real, it is not without hurdles: longer experimental or optional – it’s a
enabling new technologies. ing the operating life of wind turbines. agricultural and urban waste sectors. production, plastics, or fuels.  Cost remains a major challenge. core component of global climate stra-
Further, lubricants and greases designed Capturing carbon from industrial tegy. In 2025, we are entering a decisive
Principal applications in renewable for extreme service conditions guaran- Future perspective There are three main types of sources can cost between $40–$100 period where these technologies are
energy markets tee reliable gearbox and bearing perfor- The future of renewable energy is carbon capture: per tonne, while DAC is often even being tested not just in labs but at
mance, which further reduces downtime undeniably tied to the development of 1. Point-source capture, where CO more expensive. industrial scale.
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Solar energy and maintenance expenses. specialty chemicals. As the demand is captured directly from industrial  Infrastructure gaps exist. CO must
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Specialty chemicals are important for cleaner, more effi cient and longer- plants like cement, steel, or power be transported (via pipelines or If scaled responsibly and supported
in the manufacturing of high-effi ciency Energy storage and batteries duration energy solutions increase, the generation facilities. ships) and safely stored – often un- by policy, carbon capture could
photovoltaic cells. The encapsulants Storing energy effi ciently is the demand for sophisticated chemical inno- 2. Direct air capture (DAC), where derground in geologic formations. remove billions of tonnes of CO from
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and backsheet materials shield solar foundation of the renewable energy vations takes a hike as well. Whether machines pull CO directly from This requires a coordinated buildout the atmosphere over the coming de-
cells from moisture and ultraviolet transition and specialty chemicals play it is with the help of bio-based feed- ambient air. 2 similar in scale to energy grids. cades. As governments, businesses, and
degradation. This provides them with a crucial role in this. Lithium-ion, solid- stocks, recyclable composites, or digi- 3. Bioenergy with carbon capture and  Public perception is mixed. Some citizens look for every tool available
long-term reliability and performance state battery electrolytes as well as tal manufacturing, specialty chemicals storage (BECCS), which combines environmental groups worry that to address the climate crisis, carbon
advantage. Conductive pastes are used separators are the responsible mate- will continue to drive the future of biomass energy production with carbon capture could be used to jus- capture technology will play a pivotal
to magnify the cells’ electrical output rials for maintaining safety, maximiz- renewable energy, propelling us towards carbon capture to result in net-nega- tify continued fossil fuel use rather role in building a more sustainable
by incorporating anti-refl ective and ing charge rates, and prolonging bat- a sustainable, decarbonized world. tive emissions. than transitioning away from it. future.

182 Chemical Weekly July 29, 2025 Chemical Weekly July 29, 2025 183

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