University of Strathclyde Leads on Carbon Capture and Decarbonisation
Aberdeen academic takes international vice chair role in industrial decarbonisation
The University of Aberdeen has appointed Dr Waheed Afzal, a Reader in Chemical Engineering, to serve as Vice Chair of the International Committee on Industrial Energy Conservation, Emission Reduction and Pollutant Treatment. The committee operates under the International Association for Carbon Capture. This appointment reinforces Aberdeen's position in carbon capture research and industrial decarbonisation policy development.
The role matters because industrial decarbonisation remains one of the most challenging aspects of the UK's net-zero transition. Sectors such as cement, steel, and chemicals require high-temperature processes that are difficult to electrify. Carbon capture technologies offer one of the few viable routes to deep emissions cuts in these industries. However, moving technologies from laboratory research to commercial deployment requires international collaboration and institutional backing.
Dr Afzal's appointment places the university at the centre of an international committee that brings together academics, researchers, and professionals from major industrial organisations. The committee's stated purpose is to strengthen collaboration between academia and industry. It also aims to support the development and deployment of technologies that can help heavy industry move toward net-zero operations.
The university notes that Dr Yeshui Zhang, a Lecturer in the School of Engineering, currently serves as Chair of the International Association for Carbon Capture. Together, these positions suggest Aberdeen is not only contributing research but also shaping the agenda of an international professional network focused on carbon capture and industrial sustainability.
Over a decade of carbon capture research and commercial development
Aberdeen's latest announcement builds on more than ten years of work in carbon capture and conversion technologies. In 2016, researchers from the university entered the NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE competition with a system called the Carbon Capture Machine. The system was designed to capture carbon dioxide from flue gas and convert it into useful feedstocks and products.
By 2018, the university's spin-out company, Carbon Capture Machine (UK) Ltd, had become the sole European finalist in the global competition. This achievement highlighted the team's early international profile. Consequently, it also demonstrated that Aberdeen's approach to carbon capture had moved beyond theoretical research into scalable technology development.
The earlier work focused on decarbonising industrial emitters such as power stations, cement factories, and breweries. The aim was to turn emissions into commercially valuable materials. These materials included cements, concretes, plastics, and adhesives. In addition, the technology targeted industries where emissions are difficult to eliminate through electrification or process changes alone.
The university has continued to expand its carbon capture activities. It now offers an online course covering carbon capture, utilisation, and storage technologies. The course includes modules on capture methods, transport infrastructure, and CO2 storage technologies. It requires approximately 150 hours of study and assessment time. The next scheduled start date is 21 September 2026.
For UK businesses, this progression from research to spin-out to international committee roles illustrates how academic institutions are becoming more involved in technology deployment pathways. It also shows how carbon capture expertise is being organised to support industrial adoption, which is often the main barrier to scaling these technologies.
Committee membership spans academia and major industrial organisations
The International Committee on Industrial Energy Conservation, Emission Reduction and Pollutant Treatment brings together selected experts from both academic and industrial settings. Members work across energy conservation, emissions reduction, pollution control, carbon capture, and industrial decarbonisation. The committee's structure is designed to bridge the gap between research and real-world application.
Industrial decarbonisation requires coordination across multiple stakeholders. Technology developers need to understand the operational constraints of heavy industry. Meanwhile, industrial operators need access to emerging technologies that can meet both emissions targets and commercial viability requirements. International committees like this one provide a forum for these conversations to happen.
For UK manufacturers and industrial operators, the involvement of UK academics in international carbon capture bodies can influence how technologies are developed and deployed. It also shapes the standards and approaches that may eventually become industry norms. Therefore, tracking these appointments can offer early signals about where carbon capture research is heading and which approaches are gaining traction.
The committee's focus on energy conservation alongside emissions reduction also reflects the commercial reality that most businesses need to reduce costs as well as carbon. Technologies that deliver both outcomes are more likely to achieve widespread adoption. Similarly, approaches that can be retrofitted to existing facilities are more practical than those requiring complete plant redesigns.
Industrial decarbonisation challenges for UK manufacturers
UK manufacturers face mounting pressure to decarbonise heavy industrial processes. The government's net-zero commitment by 2050 means sectors such as cement, steel, chemicals, and glass manufacturing must find ways to eliminate emissions that cannot be addressed through electrification. Carbon capture is one of the few technologies capable of addressing these hard-to-abate emissions.
However, deploying carbon capture at scale requires significant capital investment. It also requires infrastructure for transporting and storing captured CO2. Furthermore, businesses need confidence that the technology will work reliably in industrial settings, not just in laboratory conditions. This is where international collaboration and knowledge-sharing become critical.
UK businesses involved in public sector supply chains may also face growing pressure to demonstrate decarbonisation plans. Procurement Policy Note 06/21 requires suppliers bidding for major government contracts to publish carbon reduction plans. While the policy does not mandate specific technologies, it does require credible pathways to net zero. For manufacturers in high-emission sectors, carbon capture may be part of that pathway.
The carbon reporting and net-zero planning process for industrial businesses often reveals that electrification alone cannot eliminate all emissions. Process emissions from chemical reactions, high-temperature heating, and other industrial activities require different approaches. Carbon capture and utilisation technologies can address these gaps, though they require careful evaluation of technical and commercial feasibility.
UK industrial sites also face regional variations in decarbonisation infrastructure. Areas with access to CO2 transport and storage networks, such as those being developed in Teesside and Humberside, may find carbon capture more economically viable than sites in other regions. Meanwhile, businesses without access to such infrastructure may need to explore carbon utilisation pathways that convert CO2 into products on-site.
Carbon capture moves from research competition to institutional leadership
Aberdeen's progression from Carbon XPRIZE finalist to international committee leadership illustrates how carbon capture research is maturing. Early-stage competitions like the XPRIZE helped validate technical approaches and attract attention to promising technologies. However, moving from proof-of-concept to commercial deployment requires different forms of support.
International committees and professional networks play a critical role in this transition. They help researchers understand what industry needs. They also help industrial operators understand what technologies are becoming available. In addition, they can influence funding priorities, research agendas, and policy development.
For UK businesses tracking the energy transition, the involvement of UK institutions in these international bodies matters. It shapes which technologies receive research funding and attention. It also influences which approaches become part of industry roadmaps and government strategies. Consequently, appointments like Dr Afzal's can offer early signals about where carbon capture research and policy are heading.
The university's continued work in carbon capture also demonstrates the long timescales involved in developing and deploying industrial decarbonisation technologies. The Carbon Capture Machine work began in 2016. The spin-out reached international competition finals in 2018. The current international committee appointments are happening in 2025. This timeline underscores that industrial decarbonisation is a long-term process, not a quick fix.
UK manufacturers evaluating carbon capture options should therefore consider both the technical maturity of available technologies and the institutional support structures being built around them. Technologies backed by active research communities and international professional networks are more likely to continue developing and improving. They are also more likely to attract the infrastructure investment and policy support needed for widespread deployment.
What UK industrial businesses need to know about carbon capture developments
- Dr Waheed Afzal from the University of Aberdeen has been appointed Vice Chair of the International Committee on Industrial Energy Conservation, Emission Reduction and Pollutant Treatment under the International Association for Carbon Capture.
- The committee brings together academics and professionals from major industrial organisations working on energy conservation, emissions reduction, carbon capture, and industrial decarbonisation.
- Aberdeen's carbon capture work dates back to 2016 when researchers entered the NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE competition with the Carbon Capture Machine system.
- By 2018, the university's spin-out Carbon Capture Machine (UK) Ltd had become the sole European finalist in the global competition.
- The university now offers a carbon capture, utilisation, and storage course requiring approximately 150 hours of study, with the next start date scheduled for 21 September 2026.
- Dr Yeshui Zhang from Aberdeen currently serves as Chair of the International Association for Carbon Capture, giving the university leadership positions in two key roles within the international carbon capture community.
- Industrial decarbonisation remains one of the most challenging aspects of reaching net zero, particularly for sectors such as cement, steel, and chemicals that rely on high-temperature processes.
Evaluating carbon capture options for your industrial operations
UK manufacturers considering carbon capture technologies face several practical questions. First, which emissions sources at your site are suitable for capture? Process emissions from chemical reactions may be easier to capture than diffuse emissions from multiple small sources. Similarly, high-concentration CO2 streams are generally easier and cheaper to capture than low-concentration streams.
Second, what happens to the captured CO2? Storage requires access to geological storage sites and transport infrastructure. Utilisation pathways that convert CO2 into products may be more viable for sites without storage access. However, utilisation requires markets for the resulting products and technologies that can convert CO2 economically.
Third, what are the capital and operating costs? Carbon capture systems require energy to operate, which adds to running costs. They also require upfront investment in capture equipment and integration with existing processes. Furthermore, businesses need to factor in the cost of CO2 transport and storage or the revenue from CO2-derived products.
The involvement of UK universities in international carbon capture committees can help address some of these questions. Academic research institutions often have access to technical expertise that can evaluate whether specific carbon capture approaches are suitable for particular industrial processes. They may also have connections to pilot facilities where technologies can be tested before full-scale deployment.
For businesses in the early stages of decarbonisation planning, understanding the technology landscape is as important as understanding your own emissions profile. Carbon reporting and compliance support can help identify which emissions sources are most significant and which require technologies like carbon capture to address effectively.
Meanwhile, businesses should be realistic about timescales. Carbon capture technologies are still developing. Infrastructure for CO2 transport and storage is being built but is not yet widely available across the UK. Therefore, carbon capture may be a medium-term solution rather than an immediate one for many businesses. However, tracking developments in the field and building relationships with research institutions can help ensure you're ready when technologies and infrastructure become commercially viable.
Where to find authoritative information on carbon capture and industrial decarbonisation
The UK government provides guidance on carbon capture, utilisation, and storage through the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. The department oversees the government's CCUS strategy and infrastructure development programs. It also publishes updates on policy developments and funding opportunities for industrial decarbonisation.
The Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy sets out the government's approach to reducing emissions from heavy industry. It includes information on technology support, infrastructure planning, and sector-specific pathways. This document is essential reading for UK manufacturers trying to understand how their sector is expected to decarbonise.
For businesses seeking technical information on carbon capture technologies, the International Energy Agency's CCUS resources provide detailed analysis and data. The IEA tracks global deployment of carbon capture technologies and publishes regular updates on technology costs, performance, and policy developments.
UK businesses involved in public sector supply chains should also review Procurement Policy Note 06/21 on carbon reduction plans. While this policy does not specify technologies, it does require suppliers to demonstrate credible decarbonisation pathways. Understanding PPN 06/21 requirements can help businesses determine whether carbon capture needs to be part of their net-zero strategy.