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Episode 25 - Industrial Decarbonisation

In this episode, host Dr. Gbemi Oluleye, Lecturer at Imperial College London, is joined by Adam Hearne, CEO and Co-founder of CarbonChain. Together, they explore the complexities of industrial decarbonisation and how energy-intensive sectors can transition to a net-zero economy, discussing key topics such as:

The technical challenges in industrial decarbonisation
The role of innovative technologies in reducing carbon footprints
How carbon accounting software enables businesses to track and manage emissions
The impact of smart policies and financial incentives on industry transitions
The importance of hidden heroes—leaders driving sustainability from within

Episode Overview

with timestamps

Introduction [00:00:00] – The mission of Energy Futures Podcast
Guest Introduction [00:00:31] – Dr. Gbemi Oluleye introduces Adam Hearne
What is Industrial Decarbonisation [00:01:58] – Defining the challenge
Carbon Accounting for Heavy Industries [00:03:16] – Adam’s work at CarbonChain
Realistic Decarbonisation Pathways [00:05:18] – Sector-specific strategies
Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS) Debate [00:08:18] - Is CCS a viable solution?
Biggest Challenges in Industrial Decarbonisation [00:09:51] – Policy instability and market incentives
Smart Policy for Industrial Decarbonisation [00:12:46] – Designing effective regulations
Carbon Pricing & Border Adjustment Mechanisms [00:15:25] – The UK and global landscape
Should Policy Be Technology Agnostic? [00:17:30] – Designing effective support mechanisms
What Can Industry Do Now? [00:19:39] – Actions despite policy gaps
Biggest Opportunities from Industrial Decarbonisation [00:22:04] – Economic and job growth
Lessons for Other Sectors [00:26:30] – What non-heavy industries can learn
The UK vs Global Industrial Decarbonisation Landscape [00:27:54] – Strengths and weaknesses
The Role of Carbon Accounting [00:30:52] – The ‘underdog’ of industrial sustainability
The Power of Hidden Heroes [00:34:20] – Leaders making change happen
Encouraging Innovation in Deep Tech [00:40:28] – The need for long-term vision
Advice for the Academic Community [00:43:17] – Bridging research and policy
Exciting Future of Industrial Decarbonisation [00:45:11] – Workforce transformation and consumer impact
Smart Finance & Resource Allocation [00:47:07] – Retrofitting vs. new industry
Collaboration for Net Zero [00:51:34] – Academia, startups, and government
Closing Thoughts & Call to Action [00:53:31] – How to get involved

Meet Our Guests

Dr. Gbemi Oluleye

Dr Gbemi Oluleye is a Lecturer at the Grantham Institute – Climate Change and the Environment, and a member of the Sargent Centre for Process Systems Engineering. She leads GII (Green Industrial Interventions) Lab, where we develop decision support frameworks to evaluate, design and blend interventions to improve the economic viability of sustainable solutions for decarbonisation.

Adam Hearne

Adam Hearne is an expert on the commodity and manufacturing sectors' transition to a net-zero economy. He is the CEO and co-founder of CarbonChain, providing automated, asset-level carbon accounting for the most carbon-intensive supply chains. Adam’s career spans nearly two decades across supply chain management, extractive commodities, and technology start-ups.

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