The document discusses decarbonizing infrastructure and making better decisions for the energy transition. It notes that today's energy systems are undergoing major transformations leading to greater integration across sectors. A central feature is the growth in alternative technology options and increasing uncertainty, creating a complex connected solution network. The modular structure of MIT's analysis platform captures over 1000 pathways and 90% of emissions. Key opportunities for decarbonization include power, transportation, industry and buildings; carbon management; low-carbon fuels; and decarbonizing heat and power for industry and transportation.

1. 1
Infra4Dev Conference
November 18, 2020
rca@mit.edu
Robert C Armstrong
Director, MIT Energy Initiative
Chevron Professor of Chemical Engineering
Infra4Dev Conference
Decarbonizing Infrastructure
Making Better Decisions for the Energy Transition

2. 2
Today’s energy systems are undergoing major transformations, which are leading towards
greater convergence and inter-sectoral integration – Understanding the implications of these
dynamics requires novel tools that provide deep systems-level insights
Source: Emre Gencer, MITEI
Industrial
Transportation
Power
ResidentialEV
H2FCV
Electro-
chemistry
Rooftop PV
Net metering
Charging

3. Low-carbon electricity pivotal for economy-wide deep
decarbonization, but other energy carriers also needed
Source: EIA, 2018
Fossil or Bio
with CCS
Electrolysis
Fossil or Bio
with CCS
VRE Power
(wind, solar)
Low Carbon
Electric Power
Low Carbon
Hydrogen

4. 4
The modular structure of our platform allows the analysis of a very large number of conventional and
novel pathways – More than 1000 energy pathways are embedded in the framework capturing ~90% of
energy-related emissions
UPSTREAM MIDSTREAM PROCESS GATE TO USER END USE
Fossil Gas
Liquid
Solid
• Pipeline
• Tank
• Ship
• Pipeline
• Rail
• Ship
• Truck
• Truck
• Ship
• Rail
Heat & Power
Industrial
Gasification
Refinery
• Gasoline
• Diesel
Iron & Steel
Cement
CNG
LNG
Gas
Liquid
Solid
Power
Transportation
Residential
Industrial
Wind
Ore, chemicals,
etc.
Other
Hydro
Heat
Compression
Flare
Separation
Separation
Drying
Crushing / Milling
Transmission lines
Steam
Filling stations
Electricity
Heat
Advanced control
Advanced lighting
Solar thermal
Efficiency
Process enhancement
& intensification
CCUS
***
CO2
compression
CO2 Utilization
CO2 separation
Absorption
Adsorption
Oxy-combustion
Enhanced Oil
Recovery
Coal
• Bituminous
• Sub-bituminous
• Lignite
Oil
• Conventional
• Tight oil
• Oil sands
• Oil shale
Natural gas
• Conventional
• Shale gas
• Tight gas
• Coal bed
• Sub-critical
• Super-critical
• Gas turbine
• Combined cycle
• IGCC **
• Steam generation
• Combustion
Biorefinery
Ethanol (Fermentation)
CO2 Storage
Aquifer
Wave & Tidal
Geothermal
Solvent
Chemical
production
Unmineable beds
Enhanced Oil
Recovery
Liquefaction
• Pipeline
• Rail
• Ship
• Truck
Distribution lines
Uranium ore
transportation
Nuclear
• Truck
• Ship
• Rail
• Pipeline
• Tank
• Ship
LDV Technologies
• ICEV
• Hybrid
• EV
• FCV
Liquid Products
• Gasoline
• Diesel
• Ethanol
• Methanol
• Dimethyl ether
• Liquefied natural gas
• LPG
Gaseous Products
• Compressed NG
• Hydrogen
HDV
*Concentrated Solar Power,
**Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle, ***Carbon Capture, Utilization & Storage
Advanced Storage
• Flow batteries
• Pumped hydro
• Molten salt
• Li-ion
H2
• Steam methane Reforming
• Partial Oxidation
• Auto Thermal Reforming
• Electrolysis
Engine efficiency
Cont. commissioning
Solid Products
• Cement
• Iron & Steel
• Polyethylene
Solar
• Photovoltaics
• CSP*
Dimethyl ether
Methanol
Renewable
Polyethylene
ProductsEndUsers
Production Processes for:
Biomass
• Corn
• Corn stover
• Cellulosic bolt-on
• Forest residue
• Biogas

5. A central feature of today’s changing energy landscape is the growth in alternative
technology options and the increasing uncertainty – This creates a complex multi-dimensional
connected solution network
Source: Emre Gencer, MITEI

6. 6
Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Vehicles with Different Powertrains from MITEI’s Mobility of the Future
Study
energy.mit.edu/publication/insights-into-future-mobility/
- BEV emissions per mile are about 55% of comparable ICEVs.
- HEV, PHEV and FCEVs emissions are all similar and fall between ICEV
and BEV emissions.
BEV emissions are based on the average carbon-intensity of U.S. electricity
FCEV emissions are based on hydrogen from steam methane reforming
BEV/HEV
Sources: MITEI Analysis

7. Specific Areas of Opportunity for Energy System-Wide Decarbonization
• Energy system decarbonization
– Power, transportation, industry, and building energy use and intersectoral linkages
• Carbon management
– Capture … plan for tomorrow’s system’s, not today’s
– Use
– Storage
• Low-carbon fuels – particularly liquid fuels
– Hydrogen
– Biofuels
– Synthetic hydrocarbons (“solar fuels”)
– Ammonia
– …
• Industry
– Cement, iron and steel, …
– How do we get heat and power to meet future industrial needs?
• Transportation
– Long distance
– Shipping
– Air

8. 8
Robert C. Armstrong
Thank you
energy.mit.edu @mitenergy
rca@mit.edu