Global Efficiency Intelligence

06/17/2026

New report: The Effect of a U.S. Border Carbon Adjustment on the Aluminum Industry and Trade
An Assessment of the Foreign Pollution Fee Act (FPFA) and the Clean Competition Act (CCA).

We are pleased to announce the publication of our new report. This report by Global Efficiency Intelligence examines two leading U.S. border carbon adjustment proposals and their potential implications for the aluminum industry, trade flows, government revenue, and GHG emissions.

Using detailed trade, production, and emissions data, we model the impacts of both policies on U.S. aluminum imports through 2030 and evaluate key policy design considerations. The analysis highlights important trade-offs between trade disruption, supply security, revenue generation, emissions reductions, and long-term policy coherence.

Among the key findings:
• The Foreign Pollution Fee Act (FPFA) would drive larger and more immediate changes in aluminum trade patterns but carries higher supply disruption risks.

• The Clean Competition Act (CCA) would produce more gradual market adjustments while providing dedicated funding for domestic and international decarbonization.

• Strategic reinvestment of border carbon revenues could significantly accelerate decarbonization of the aluminum industry in the U.S. (and globally).

• Transitioning U.S. aluminum smelters to 80% renewable electricity plus storage would require about $360 million per year ($1.8 billion over five years), delivering roughly 3.8 Mt CO₂ annual emissions reductions (~80%) at an abatement cost of $90–95/tCO₂. This funding need is modest relative to projected revenues under the FPFA and CCA.

The report also proposes a revenue distribution framework and identifies several policy design improvements that could strengthen future U.S. border carbon adjustment policies.

You can download the report from this link:

Members of both parties in the U.S. Congress have put forward several proposals for Border Carbon Adjustment (BCA) policies, also referred to as border carbon fees to address carbon leakage and protect the competitiveness of domestic energy-intensive industries. Aluminum is central to this debate. I...

06/08/2026

New Report: I'm pleased to share our new technical reference guide:

"A Process-Technology Fit Matrix and Decision Guide for Low-Carbon Heating in Textile Wet Processing and Finishing"

This is the first publicly available technical reference guide designed specifically to help textile manufacturers and apparel brands identify and evaluate electrification and low-carbon heating pathways across textile wet processing and finishing operations.

One of the biggest challenges facing the industry is determining which low-carbon heating technologies are suitable for different textile processes and facilities. The answer depends not only on temperature, but also on heat carrier requirements, process conditions, plant configuration, electricity availability, economics, and implementation constraints.

This technical reference guide developed by Global Efficiency Intelligence provides a practical framework to help navigate those decisions. It includes:

• A detailed process-technology fit matrix covering major textile wet processing and finishing operations

• Decision Tree 2.0 for plant-level technology selection

• Guidance on steam heat pumps, hot-water heat pumps, electric steam boilers, electric thermal oil boilers, direct process electrification, and sustainable biomass

• Key engineering considerations and hybrid system configurations

• Economic analysis covering lifetime cost, payback, and investment risk

The technical reference guide is intended for textile manufacturers, apparel brands, technology providers, consultants, engineers, NGOs, and policymakers working on textile industry decarbonization.

The publication is freely available here:New Report: I'm pleased to share our new technical reference guide:

"A Process-Technology Fit Matrix and Decision Guide for Low-Carbon Heating in Textile Wet Processing and Finishing"

To our knowledge, this is the first publicly available technical reference guide designed specifically to help textile manufacturers and apparel brands identify and evaluate electrification and low-carbon heating pathways across textile wet processing and finishing operations.

One of the biggest challenges facing the industry is determining which low-carbon heating technologies are suitable for different textile processes and facilities. The answer depends not only on temperature, but also on heat carrier requirements, process conditions, plant configuration, electricity availability, economics, and implementation constraints.

This technical reference guide developed by Global Efficiency Intelligence provides a practical framework to help navigate those decisions. It includes:

• A detailed process-technology fit matrix covering major textile wet processing and finishing operations

• Decision Tree 2.0 for plant-level technology selection

• Guidance on steam heat pumps, hot-water heat pumps, electric steam boilers, electric thermal oil boilers, direct process electrification, and sustainable biomass

• Key engineering considerations and hybrid system configurations

• Economic analysis covering lifetime cost, payback, and investment risk

The technical reference guide is intended for textile manufacturers, apparel brands, technology providers, consultants, engineers, NGOs, and policymakers working on textile industry decarbonization.

The publication is freely available here:

The textile and apparel industry currently accounts for roughly 2% of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A key challenge for the industry in lowering its carbon footprint is its heavy reliance on thermal energy, particularly process steam for production processes. Heat is closely l...

02/11/2026

New report: Net-Zero Roadmap for the ASEAN Steel Industry
Pathways for Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, and Singapore

The ASEAN-6 steel sector is growing fast. Without a clear plan, emissions will rise for decades. This report by Global Efficiency Intelligence lays out country-specific pathways to 2060, covering technology choices, energy transitions, policy actions, and investment priorities.

The report includes:
• Current energy use and CO₂ emissions by country
• Four decarbonization scenarios through 2060
• The role of Energy Efficiency, EAF, DRI, green hydrogen, electrification, fuel switching, and CCUS
• Concrete action plans for governments, steel producers, and steel buyers

You can download the full report here:https://www.globalefficiencyintel.com/netzero-roadmap-for-the-asean-steel-industry

Thanks to the South East Asia Iron and Steel Institute (SEAISI) for the support and collaboration.

09/17/2025

New Report: The Impact of a US Border Carbon Fee on the Steel Industry and Trade:
An Assessment of the Foreign Pollution Fee Act (FPFA)

What happens when the US puts a carbon fee on imported steel?

Our new study by Global Efficiency Intelligence shows that the proposed Foreign Pollution Fee Act could:

· Cut US steel imports from current suppliers by 17%-42% in 2026 compared to 2024 under different elasticity scenarios.

· Reduce imports from high-emission suppliers like China (-95%), Vietnam (-85%), and -30% to -50% from many other countries under an import demand elasticity of -1.0

· Generate $15–36 billion in cumulative revenue from 2026 to 2030, depending on elasticity scenarios

· Reshape the steel trade by rewarding lower-carbon steel producers

But the policy also raises some tough questions: How will it interact with existing tariffs such as Section 232? Could it disrupt the clean steel trade? And can it align with the EU’s CBAM to avoid trade friction?

Read the full report here:https://www.globalefficiencyintel.com/impact-of-a-us-border-carbon-fee-on-the-steel-industry-and-trade

09/09/2025

I am pleased to share our latest report, Leveraging Demand Response to Electrify Heating in the Textile Industry in Southeast Asia.
https://www.globalefficiencyintel.com/leveraging-demand-response-to-electrify-heating-in-the-textile-industry-in-southeast-asia

In this study by Global Efficiency Intelligence, we show that pairing electrified heating with demand response (DR) can make textile plants more flexible, reduce costs, and accelerate heating electrification and decarbonization. Notably, DR offers cost benefits comparable to subsidies, making it a powerful policy tool.

Although the analysis focuses on textile facilities in Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia, the findings are relevant to other regions as well.

The report covers:

The role of demand response and virtual power plants in managing industrial electricity demand

Textile wet-processing energy needs and opportunities for flexible load management in textile facilities

Current status of DR programs in Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia

Three electrification technologies: electric boilers, thermal oil boilers, and industrial heat pumps

Techno-economic modeling of DR scenarios in textile wet-processing plants

Policy and action recommendations for governments, industry, and utilities

We hope you find this report useful for your work and encourage you to share it with anyone who may be interested in this topic.

Demand Response (DR) and Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) are potentially transformative tools for managing rising industrial electricity demand and integrating renewable energy in Southeast Asia, a region with rapidly growing energy needs and strong decarbonization potential. DR can function either as a...

08/26/2025

New Report: Aluminum Climate Impact 2025

I’m pleased to share our latest publication, "Aluminum Climate Impact 2025 – An International Benchmarking of Energy and CO₂ Intensities."

https://www.globalefficiencyintel.com/aluminum-climate-impact-2025-an-international-benchmarking-of-energy-and-co2-intensities

In this report by Global Efficiency Intelligence, we update our previous 2022 study by using 2023 data and new methodological improvements (see page 2 of the report). It provides a clearer and updated benchmarking of the global aluminum industry’s energy use and emissions.

In this report, we include:

- Global aluminum production and trade trends

- Benchmarking of energy and CO₂ emissions intensities across countries

- Separate analysis of primary vs. secondary aluminum production

- Key factors shaping aluminum sector emissions

- A new version of the Green Primary Aluminum Rating System (v2.0)

You can access the full report here: https://www.globalefficiencyintel.com/aluminum-climate-impact-2025-an-international-benchmarking-of-energy-and-co2-intensities

The global aluminum industry is responsible for about 2% of total carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions worldwide. Between 2000 and 2024, global aluminum production more than doubled, driven largely by China, which produced 59% of the world’s aluminum in 2024. Despite some improvements in energy and em...

03/27/2025

New Report:

Today, Global Efficiency Intelligence published a new report titled "China’s Steel Transformation: From Blast Furnaces to Electric Arc Furnaces."

https://www.globalefficiencyintel.com/chinas-steel-transformation-from-blast-furnaces-to-electric-arc-furnaces

This transition in the Chinese steel industry could lead to greater annual CO₂ emissions reductions by 2050 than Germany's total annual emissions. With China’s growing scrap supply and evolving policies, this shift is both necessary and achievable.

About the report:

✅ China’s Scrap Steel Supply – Trends, forecasts, and quality challenges.

✅ Emissions Impact – How transitioning to EAF can reduce CO₂ emissions.

✅ Electricity Demand & Grid Readiness – Assessing energy needs for EAF steelmaking.

✅ Economic Feasibility – Cost competitiveness of EAF compared to traditional steelmaking routes.

✅ Optimal Locations for EAF Deployment – Regions in China best suited for adoption.

✅ Policy & Regulatory Frameworks – Recommendations for scaling up EAF production.

Download the full report to find out about our key findings. (An extended executive summary is available in Chinese.)

The iron and steel industry, one of the most energy-intensive sectors globally, contributes over 7% of total greenhouse gas emissions and over 11% of global carbon dioxide emissions, largely due to the use of coal in traditional blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF) production.

03/11/2025

New Report: Excited to announce the release of our new report, "Low Carbon Thermal Energy Roadmap for the Textile Industry"
https://www.globalefficiencyintel.com/low-carbon-thermal-energy-roadmap-for-textile-industry

Commissioned by the Apparel Impact Institute (Aii) and authored by Global Efficiency Intelligence, this first-of-its-kind report outlines actionable strategies to decarbonize thermal energy in textile plants across China, India, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Indonesia.

Key highlights of the report include:
- Baseline data on textile wet-processing facilities in five key countries
- Analysis of electrification technologies, including electric boilers and heat pumps
- Evaluation of alternative fuels like biomass and natural gas
- Cost analysis covering energy costs and levelized cost of heating technologies in each country
- Country-specific techno-economic modeling for steam and thermal oil heating in textile plants
- A first-of-its-kind decision tree to guide textile companies toward low-carbon heating solutions
- Implementation guidelines and financing options for electrification

Read the full report to find out how the textile facilities can transition towards low-carbon heating:https://www.globalefficiencyintel.com/low-carbon-thermal-energy-roadmap-for-textile-industry

The textile and apparel industry is a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for approximately 2% of annual emissions. A major challenge is its reliance on fossil fuel-based thermal energy for process heating, such as steam production and thermal oil heating, which co...

03/04/2025

New Report: The Impact of the EU CBAM on Global Steel Trade – Implications for U.S. Steel Tariffs
https://www.globalefficiencyintel.com/the-impact-of-the-eu-cbam-on-global-steel-trade

The EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is set to reshape global steel trade, creating new challenges and opportunities for steel producers worldwide. Global Efficiency Intelligence published a report today that analyzes how CBAM will impact steel exports, shift trade flows, and interact with U.S. steel tariffs in the coming years.

Some topics covered in this report are:
🔹 CBAM’s Disruptive Impact – How the EU’s carbon pricing on imported steel will reshape global trade and put pressure on carbon-intensive producers

🔹 Shifts in Steel Trade Flows – Projected reductions in steel exports to the EU and how key suppliers like China, India, South Korea, Turkiye, Vietnam and others will be affected

🔹 U.S. Tariffs vs. CBAM – Why the U.S. Section 232 tariff acts as a barrier against diverted high-carbon steel and how its impact compares to CBAM fees

🔹 Financial Implications – Estimated CBAM costs for importers/exporters under different carbon price scenarios and projected revenue generated from CBAM fees

🔹 Policy & Market Outlook – Expected CBAM revisions, future trade frictions, and upcoming US tariffs

Read the full report for more details https://www.globalefficiencyintel.com/the-impact-of-the-eu-cbam-on-global-steel-trade

The global steel industry is at a critical point, facing challenges from China’s steel overcapacity, evolving trade policies, and increasing pressure to decarbonize. As countries introduce mechanisms like the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (EU CBAM), the dynamics of steel tr...

02/21/2025

🚨 New Report🚨
We just published our latest report: "What is Green Aluminum?
Definitions from Standards, Initiatives, and Policies Around the World."
https://www.globalefficiencyintel.com/what-is-green-aluminum

Authors: Ali Hasanbeigi, Adam Sibal, Cecilia Springer

The aluminum industry accounted for around 2% of global CO2 emissions.
As more companies and policymakers seek to define "green aluminum," the landscape of standards, initiatives, and policies has become fragmented and complex.

📢 This report by Global Efficiency Intelligence provides the first comprehensive cross-comparison of 19 global standards, protocols, initiatives, and policies aimed at decarbonizing the aluminum industry.

🔍 Some Highlights about the Report:
✅ First-of-its-kind Green Primary Aluminum Rating System – We propose an A-G rating scale based on CO₂ intensity to increase transparency and accountability in aluminum production.

✅ Extensive analysis of major standards, protocols, and initiatives – Covering industry frameworks like ASI, SBTi, First Movers Coalition, and more.

✅ Comparison of national and regional policies – Examining approaches from the U.S., EU, China, Canada, etc.

✅ Insights into Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions – Highlighting the need for harmonization in emissions accounting.

✅ Call for stronger demand-side and financial incentives – To drive adoption of low-carbon aluminum beyond production-focused efforts.

📩 Download the full report here: https://www.globalefficiencyintel.com/what-is-green-aluminum

We have also published similar reports on "What is Green Steel?" and "What are Green Cement and Concrete?" in the past two years. You can find them on our website.

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The aluminum industry is one of the most energy- and carbon-intensive industries worldwide. The aluminum industry accounted for around 2% of global CO2 emissions in 2020, of which 81% are from electricity use, compared to 19% from fuel use. Aluminum production also produces direct GHG emissions in t...