IEA IETS Task 21

IEA IETS Task 21 is an international research collaboration under the framework of the International Energy Agency (IEA) and addresses key challenges related to the decarbonisation of industry. Its main focus lies on Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) and industrial symbiosis as essential levers to improve energy and resource efficiency and to enable circular economy approaches. Austria plays a central role in Task 21 by acting as the Operating Agent and coordinating international activities.

The current project phase is structured around two core thematic areas. The first focuses on carbon dioxide capture in industrial processes, including the comparison of national CO₂ management strategies, legal frameworks, emerging CCU value chains and the identification of key stakeholders. The second thematic area addresses the facilitation of industrial symbiosis, meaning the systematic exchange of excess heat, by-products and resources between companies. In this context, methods, tools and organisational approaches that support the implementation of industrial symbiosis are collected, assessed and further developed.
The project activities are based on literature reviews, international workshops, structured surveys and close exchange between research organisations, industry and public institutions. A key objective is to place national experiences in an international context, identify synergies across countries and provide practice-oriented insights for industry, policy makers and the research community. Through strong networking with other IEA programmes and industrial stakeholders, Task 21 contributes to accelerating the transition towards climate-neutral industrial energy systems.