Assessing the Potential of Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage for Industrial Decarbonization

Abstract

This study evaluates the techno-economic potential of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) and carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies as pathways for industrial decarbonization in Albania, with a particular focus on the cement industry. Addressing the limited evidence available for small industrial economies, a transparent and simplified assessment framework is developed using national emission inventories, plant capacity data, and techno-economic parameters validated in the literature. Three cumulative mitigation scenarios were evaluated, including (S1) energy efficiency and waste heat recovery, (S2) alternative fuel utilization and clinker substitution, and (S3) CCUS deployment. The results indicate that conventional mitigation measures can reduce sectoral CO₂ emissions by approximately 35–40%, whereas CCUS deployment enables emission reductions exceeding 50%, with estimated abatement costs ranging from €180 to €320 per tCO₂, depending on capture efficiency and electricity prices. The analysis further demonstrates that the feasibility of deep industrial decarbonization in scale-constrained economies is determined not only by the performance of capture technologies but also by cumulative mitigation thresholds and the availability of regional CO₂ transport and storage infrastructure. These findings provide a practical framework for evaluating CCUS deployment in small industrial economies and offer insights to support long-term industrial decarbonization strategies where domestic CO₂ storage options are limited.