Exploring techno-economic landscapes of abatement options for hard-to-electrify sectors

Abstract Approximately 20% of global CO2 emissions originate from sectors often labeled as hard-to-abate, which are challenging or impossible to electrify directly. Alternative abatement options are necessary for these sectors; however, they encounter critical technological bottlenecks, particularly concerning the availability and cost of low-emission hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, and direct-air capture. Here we conduct a broad techno-economic analysis mapping abatement options and hard-to-electrify sectors while addressing associated technological uncertainties. Our findings reveal a diverse mitigation landscape that can be categorized into three tiers, based on the abatement cost and technologies required. By considering long-term climate neutrality requirements through simple conditions, the mitigation landscape narrows substantially, with a single option dominating within each sector. This outcome justifies targeted political support for sector-specific abatement options, providing a clearer pathway to abate the hard-to-electrify sectors.