The DRIVE project was prominently represented at the 16th International Conference on Combustion Technologies for a Clean Environment (CleanAir 2025), held from 26–28 May in Lisbon at the Instituto Superior Técnico. This international event gathers leading researchers and industrial experts working on combustion, clean energy technologies and sustainable industrial practices.
Within this framework, DRIVE contributed with the presentation “Thermally driven processes CO₂ capture: A life cycle assessment perspective”, delivered by researchers from IDMEC – Instituto Superior Técnico. The presentation showcased cutting-edge work on evaluating the environmental performance of next-generation CO₂ capture technologies developed under DRIVE.
Understanding the Environmental Impact of CO₂ Capture
The DRIVE project aims to develop cost-effective, energy-efficient deep CO₂ removal technologies, focusing on both thermally driven and electrochemical regeneration. These technologies represent a crucial step in decarbonising energy-intensive sectors such as cement, lime, chemicals and steel.
To ensure that these technological pathways are not only efficient but also environmentally sustainable, the team applies Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)—an internationally recognised methodology that evaluates environmental impacts from cradle to grave.
According to the presentation:
- LCA is essential to compare emerging CO₂ capture technologies fairly.
- Differences in system boundaries, functional units and assumptions in literature often lead to inconsistent results.
- DRIVE contributes by introducing harmonised KPIs and integrated LCA frameworks to ensure coherence and comparability.\
Key Findings Presented at CleanAir 2025
1. Benchmarking Thermal and Electrochemical Regeneration
The study evaluates three CO₂ capture pathways:
- One thermal-regeneration technology, and
- Two electrochemical alternatives.
Emerging amine-based systems capable of over 95% capture efficiency were analysed. Early results indicate that both thermal and electrochemical solutions have strong potential to support industrial decarbonisation, with different trade-offs in energy use and environmental footprint.
2. Defining Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
The research team developed a structured methodology to identify and apply KPIs related to:
- Greenhouse gas emissions
- Resource consumption
- CO₂ avoidance rate
- Environmental hotspots across the full life cycle
These KPIs help DRIVE benchmark varied technological pathways on equal terms, ensuring transparent and robust sustainability assessment.
3. Case Study in the Cement Industry
A detailed LCA model was developed for a cement plant, incorporating:
- Direct Contact Cooler (DCC)
- Water wash and control systems
- Heater and integration blocks
This case study demonstrates how advanced CO₂ capture processes can be embedded into real industrial environments, identifying environmental burdens and optimisation opportunities.\
Supporting a Carbon-Neutral Industrial Future
The presented work reinforces the essential role of LCA in the DRIVE project:
- It ensures that deep CO₂ removal technologies, once scaled, will be aligned with EU environmental goals and the climate neutrality target for 2050.
- It highlights the importance of holistic, data-driven evaluation covering technical, economic and environmental dimensions.
- It provides decision-makers and industry stakeholders with actionable insights on how different CO₂ capture approaches perform from a sustainability perspective.
By participating in CleanAir 2025, DRIVE not only contributes to the scientific dialogue but also strengthens its visibility among global experts in combustion, clean energy, and industrial carbon management.