What we do

At GII (Green Industrial Interventions) Lab, we develop participatory uncertainty-resilient decision support frameworks for evaluating, designing, and blending interventions for clean innovation adoption and diffusion. Our work emphasizes how to achieve competitiveness/ positive tipping points. Research spans internal interventions (economic value from technological and systems breakthrough such as Process Integration, Industrial Demand Response/flexibility) and external interventions (market-based government policies, market shaping mechanisms and private sector investments). We consider clean innovations for decarbonising energy-intensive sectors like Iron and Steel, Chemicals, Cement, Refining and Petrochemicals, Aviation and Shipping. We are based at the Grantham Institute – Climate Change and the Environment, Imperial College London. Please see our current and finished projects below.

Projects

Charting the Financial Future of Direct Air Capture

We investigated a revenue stream for Direct Air Capture (DAC) CO2 from e-kerosene. Forecasting DAC and point source CO2 costs until 2050, it offers insights for DAC entrepreneurs and policymakers.

Scaling Direct Air Capture in the EU

We created a comprehensive participatory framework for scaling up Direct Air Capture and Carbon Storage (DACCS) deployment in the EU, addressing key technological, commercial, and political factors.

A Global Assessment of Market-Based Policy Interventions for CCUS Competitiveness in Integrated Steel Plants

We pioneered a Simulation and Optimisation-based Market Potential Analysis (MPA) to enhance Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) uptake in the iron and steel industry. The research quantifies intervention impacts, identifies cost reductions, and proposes a global framework for CCS adoption.

Policy frameworks for de-risking investment in CCUS in Ammonia and Methanol production.

We developed a spatio-temporal participatory market penetration optimization model to drive cost reduction in CCUS and evaluate global policy interventions for their impact in ammonia and methanol plants globally.

Carbon Contracts for Difference (CCfDs) for CCUS deployment in German Cement Industry

We assessed Carbon Contracts for Difference (CCfDs) in Germany's cement industry, demonstrating their effectiveness in overcoming CCUS deployment barriers and offering insights for policy development in other regions.

Design of Market-based Policy Instruments for Accelerating the Uptake of CCUS for Global Refinery Decarbonisation

We developed an optimisation model to assess combined policies impact on CCUS adoption in oil refining, showing potential for substantial cost savings and emphasizing the importance of coordinated global policy efforts.

Multi-Channel Techno-Economic Assessment of the Emissions Reduction Potential of Electrification of UK Steel Production

We provided UK steelmakers with feasible decarbonisation pathways to achieve Net Zero by 2050, considering scrap-EAF, CCS, and UK-ETS carbon price influence

Cost-effective Uptake of Electric Boilers in the UK Chemical Industry.

We developed a novel market penetration optimisation model to hasten electric boiler adoption in the UK chemical industry, aligning with 2035 decarbonisation goals. Market-based policy interventions can significantly reduce electric boiler costs, fostering industry transition.

Policy Induced Diffusion Pathways for Utility Scale Solar PV: Case Study of Indonesia

We performed a comparative assessment of policy induced diffusion pathways to boost utility-scale solar PV in Indonesia, proposing FiT reactivation for equitable cost sharing. Results highlight the most cost-effective pathway for industry growth.

Accelerating the market uptake of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles

We are working on boosting hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (HFCV) adoption for passenger and heavy-duty transport through effective market-based policies and social campaigns.

Commercialisation of biogas fuelled solid oxide fuel cells in European wastewater treatment plants

We performed a novel market potential analysis for fuel cell commercialization, revealing a 71% cost reduction necessary for competitiveness. Current incentives offer only 13–38% reduction, prompting a call for innovative business models to sustainably drive costs down and foster sector growth.

Market Potential Assessment for cost-effective uptake of Hydrogen for Direct Iron Reduction

We developed and applied an optimization-based Market Potential Assessment framework for quantifying H2-DRI adoption, emphasizing a mix of policy interventions. Results demonstrate significant cost reductions, urging a combined approach for policy effectiveness and wider applicability.

Designing market-based policy interventions for the uptake of alternative fuels for heating in the UK chemical industry

We developed an optimization framework for designing market-based policy interventions to promote alternative fuels (green hydrogen, blue hydrogen, biomethane) uptake in the UK chemical industry. Results indicate significant cost reductions and emissions cuts, fostering win-win scenarios between government and industry.

Policies to Support Fuel Switching to Hydrogen in the UK Cement Industry Based on a Rapid Evidence Assessment

We assessed demand-pull policies for hydrogen fuel switching in the UK cement industry, identifying key areas for policy intervention and recommending tax incentives and subsidies to drive adoption.

Benefits of an Optimal Policy-Induced Diffusion Pathway for Green Hydrogen Uptake in Refineries Globally

We proposed market-based policies to support replacing grey hydrogen with green hydrogen in global oil refineries, aiming for 100% uptake by 2050, reducing emissions and total mitigation costs effectively.

Policy Induced Diffusion of Hydrogen derived fuels for Shipping Decarbonisation.

Efforts to decarbonize the maritime industry, responsible for 3% of global emissions, include exploring alternative fuels like hydrogen. Economic barriers hinder adoption, requiring targeted policies for market entry. This ongoing project aims to optimize such policies.

Developing contracts-for-difference for accelerating the production of sustainable aviation fuels in the UK

We explored contracts-for-difference (CfD) to accelerate sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production, comparing models and addressing key design elements, advancing policy options for the UK aviation industry.

The role internal and external interventions in establishing a hydrogen economy in the UK

We explored how the economic benefit from electrolyser waste heat sales for district heating, using curtailed wind for hydrogen production (internal intervention) together with external interventions (hydrogen business model, UK ETS and the industrial hydrogen accelerator programme) can enable positive tipping points for green (electrolytic) hydrogen.

Internal Interventions for Cost-effective Industrial Decarbonisation

We quantify and show how the economic value from advanced energy efficiency, Process Integration, demand flexibility and other technology and system breakthroughs can reduce the systems cost of industrial decarbonisation.

External Interventions for Cost-Effective Industrial Decarbonisation

We show how Market Based Policy Support (Capital grants, Feed-in-tariffs, subsidies, gas consumption tax, Carbon tax, Emission trading schemes, contract for difference, Carbon abatement incentive, Tax relief and credits, Purchase agreements etc) reduces costs and generates sufficient demand pull for cleantech/ clean innovations required to decarbonise industry until they achieve positive tipping points

Market Penetration Assessment

We develop optimisation-based decision support frameworks underpinned by the market penetration concept to show how blending interventions can achieve clean innovation positive tipping points

People

Miss Elsy Milan

Mr Zhenyu (Alan) Tan

Mr Daniel Davids

Mr Ussama Rai

Mr Luke Hatton

Harry Hartowo

Estelle VAFIADES

Chenhao YANG

Shifa-veronica Gumuruh

Sitong WU

Eva M Guinane

Lucrezia Portigliatti

Ed Heal OBE

Zade R Pulungan

Atheer Al Hinai

Dan J Smith

Luyue Yang

Ghilla Tosti di Valminuta

Publications