Welcome to InDecarb 2026
MIT
conf
FM

About the Conference

Industry accounts for ~ 21% of direct CO2 emissions globally, and with worldwide growth across various industries, this number is projected to grow further. While significant efforts are being made towards decarbonization of transport and energy sectors worldwide; the industry’s requirement of combustion as a primary source for heating, presents a unique set of challenges.

The MAHE–Forbes Marshall Centre for Steam Engineering & Energy Conservation, MIT, Manipal, is organizing an international conference on Industrial Decarbonization, bringing together researchers, academicians, and industry experts, to address the vital challenges in these sectors. The conference aims to provide a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange, innovation, and collaboration focused on reducing carbon emissions and exploring energy alternatives across industrial processes. By integrating cutting-edge research with real-world industrial practices, the conference seeks to accelerate the transition towards sustainable, low-carbon industrial systems and pave the way to accelerating the industry’s journey to net-zero worldwide.

Best Paper Awards of ₹ 10,000/- for each track
Researchers, academicians, industry professionals, and students are invited to contribute original research papers and case studies under the following tracks

1. Industrial Energy Efficiency

This track addresses energy optimization across diverse sectors, including pharma & chemicals, food processing, textiles, and utilities. We invite original research contributions and industrial case studies focusing on:

  • System Optimization: Enhancing energy systems powered by fossil fuels, biomass, alternative renewables, and process heat recovery.
  • Modeling & Simulation: Advanced process modeling of industrial operations (e.g., drying, evaporation, textile dyeing) utilizing instrumentation, smart controls, IoT monitoring, process analytics, and dynamic energy flow optimization.
  • Sustainability Frameworks: Submissions encompassing comprehensive energy auditing, life-cycle assessments (LCA), and cross-industry benchmarking.

Contributions should reflect the evolving energy landscape and support the transition toward a resource-efficient, sustainable industrial future.

2. Industrial Carbon Capture & Utilization

As global industries face intensifying pressure to achieve net-zero targets, mitigating industrial emissions has become both an ecological and economic imperative. Industrial Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) serves as a critical bridge toward a low-carbon future, offering a scalable, pragmatic strategy to abate emissions from hard-to-decarbonize sectors. By capturing emissions at the source and repurposing them into value-added materials, CCUS transitions carbon from an environmental liability into a circular economic asset.

We invite original research papers and case studies in the following areas:

  • Novel Capture & Valorization Pathways: Innovative technology pathways for carbon capture, conversion, and valorization.
  • Circular Carbon Economy: Frameworks and systems that promote material circularity in industrial carbon usage.
  • Techno-Economic Assessments: Novel utilization pathways for captured carbon, supported by rigorous techno-commercial and feasibility analyses.

3. Electrification Alternatives for Process Heating

Electrification of the industrial processes are gaining momentum due to accurate process control & convenience of the technology. Electrification at industrial level is a multidisciplinary approach. Steam generation with electrical heating and powered by renewables is a focus area for industrial applications. Direct electrical heating for eligible processes also remains a key area of research. Both of these form the basis of approaching industrial heating using electrical energy.

We invite original research papers and technical case studies on the following topics:

  • Steam Generation & Boiler Systems: : Innovative technologies for electrical steam generation, including electric boilers and industrial heat pumps.
  • Direct & Process Heating: Direct electrical process heaters and advanced heating technologies tailored for specific end products (e.g., textiles, pharmaceutical powders).
  • Control & Optimization: Process instrumentation, smart control systems, and optimization strategies designed specifically for electrical thermal processes.

4. Advanced Sensors for Energy & Decarbonization

Sensors and sensing principles form the foundation of measurement, monitoring, and automated decision-making across all industrial applications. Advancements in sensor technology are critical to accelerating the adoption of next-generation, data-driven systems by enabling highly accurate, real-time data acquisition and intelligent integration. A comprehensive understanding of these technologies is now essential for optimizing industrial efficiency, safety, sustainability, and overall performance.

We invite original research papers and industrial contributions in the following areas:

  • Emerging Sensor Technologies & Applications
  • Specialized Transducers: Physical, Chemical, Gas, Dust, and Water Quality Sensors.
  • Advanced Sensing Modalities: Optical, Acoustic, Ultrasonic, and MEMS-based sensors
  • System Integration: Sensor data processing methodology and intelligent user interfaces

5. Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Methods for Decarbonization

Novel materials and manufacturing methodologies possess the potential to disrupt traditional production paradigms, echoing the transformative impact of semiconductor technology in recent decades. This track highlights advanced materials engineered for superior thermal performance, catalysis, carbon management, and material circularity—all of which are critical to accelerating industrial decarbonization and sustainability.

We invite original research papers and case studies in the following areas:

  • Carbon Management Materials: Advanced catalysts, adsorbents, and absorbent materials designed for carbon capture, utilization, and valorization.
  • Surface & Thermal Engineering: High-performance materials and specialized coatings developed for corrosion prevention and heat transfer enhancement.
  • Circular Economy Solutions: Eco-friendly, green materials and circular design strategies tailored for industrial applications.

6. Thermal Energy Utilization and Storage

Optimizing industrial thermal energy requires a progressive approach: maximizing initial utilization efficiency, implementing advanced waste heat recovery, and deploying strategic thermal energy storage (TES). While global deployment has traditionally focused on high-temperature (>500℃) electrical-to-thermal charging driven by off-peak tariffs, process industries increasingly demand thermal-to-thermal storage optimized for lower temperature ranges (100℃ to 150℃).

We invite original research papers and technical contributions covering the following thematic areas:

  • Low-Temperature Storage Technologies: Advanced materials and systems optimized for the 100℃ to 150℃ temperature range.
  • Thermal-to-Thermal Heat Batteries: Design, modeling, and industrial integration of direct thermal storage systems.
  • Thermal-to-Electrical Conversion: Emerging technologies and trends in recovering and converting stored thermal energy back into electricity.
  • Next-Generation TES Solutions: Novel and emerging technologies addressing efficiency, capacity, and cost challenges in industrial thermal storage.