DOLF GIELEN

Decarbonizing industry with renewables

Abstract

Industrial production of energy intensive commodities is a major source of CO2 emissions. The rapid cost reduction for renewable power has opened up new decarbonization opportunities based on the direct use of electricity or green hydrogen. This presentation will focus on the outlook for ammonia, iron and steel and methanol production, based on recent IRENA work. Future technology, economics and trade aspects will be discussed. Moreover emerging economic opportunities for critical materials for energy transition will be elaborated.

Biography

As director of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Innovation and Technology Centre in Bonn since 2011, Dolf Gielen oversees the agency’s work on advising member countries on energy scenarios and planning, power sector transformation, cost and markets, technology status and innovation outlooks, and project development guidelines.
Before joining IRENA, Dolf Gielen worked for the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the International Energy Agency. He has a PhD from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.