Lavkarbon

Lavkarbon is a term used to describe processes, energy systems, and products that emit relatively low amounts of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide, over their life cycle. The concept is applied across energy, transport, and industry to indicate reduced carbon intensity compared with conventional alternatives. In practice, lavkarbon solutions aim to lower overall emissions while meeting energy and material needs.

Low-carbon energy sources are central to lavkarbon strategies. These include nuclear power, hydroelectric power, wind, solar, and geothermal energy. When combined with technologies such as carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), emissions can be reduced further. Emissions are typically measured as greenhouse gases per unit of energy or product, such as grams CO2 equivalent per kilowatt-hour (gCO2e/kWh) or per kilometer traveled.

Approaches to achieving lavkarbon include improving energy efficiency, electrifying end-use sectors with low-carbon electricity, and switching to low-carbon fuels such as green hydrogen, biofuels, or synthetic fuels. In industry, lavkarbon goals may involve using low-emission feedstocks, advancing process innovations, and increasing recycling. Lifecycle assessments and credible accounting are important to ensure that claimed reductions reflect real net benefits.

Policy and market frameworks support lavkarbon efforts through carbon pricing, subsidies for clean energy, efficiency standards, and green procurement. Definitions and thresholds vary by jurisdiction, and the term is often relative to a baseline or to comparable products or processes.

Challenges include ensuring credible accounting of lifecycle emissions, addressing intermittency in some renewables, managing costs, and guiding a just and equitable transition for workers and communities.