Process-to-Policy (P2Pol): using carbon emission pinch analysis (CEPA) tools for policy-making in the energy sector

Abstract: Global warming is a major international issue due to rising levels of greenhouse gases such as CO₂. Many countries now face the challenge to find cost-effective ways to deploy low-carbon technologies in order to meet commitments to the Paris Agreement. Process systems engineering (PSE) can play an essential role in supporting high-level policy decisions to help mitigate climate change. Within PSE, carbon-constrained planning will become increasingly critical for policy-making on provision of sustainable energy in electricity generation as well as other economic sectors. There are existing carbon-constrained planning tools but these often consider energy issues from limited perspectives at specific scales. In this perspective paper, we argue for a Process-to-Policy framework that centres on carbon-constrained planning which includes various stakeholders at various scales for developing strategies to address global warming. There is an urgent need for research on the development of such tools at multiple scales to effectively allocate countermeasures such as negative emission technologies. We also discuss potential extensions for carbon-constrained planning in conjunction with other established tools. Graphic abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].