In just a few weeks, gasworld’s North American CO2 Summit will be taking place in Indianapolis. The countdown is on, but you don’t have to wait until then to hear from the CO2 specialists. In the lead-up to the event, gasworld will be catching up with some of our speakers.
Kicking things off is Rich Gottwald, President and CEO of the Compressed Gas Association (CGA). Founded in 1913, the CGA’s mission is to promote the ever-improving safe, secure, and environmentally responsible manufacture, transportation, storage, transfilling, and disposal of industrial, medical, and food gases and their containers.
Throughout its time in the industry, the CGA has published over 380 publications focused on more than 55 gases, as well as production plants, cylinders, and equipment – and has over 150 member companies.
At the CO2 Summit, Gottwald will specifically focus on CO2 applications and impacts on sourcing, sharing his expertise and observations of the marketplace. Here, in this exclusive interview, we take a sneak peek at what attendees can expect.
Rich, thank you for taking the time to speak to gasworld today. You’re soon going to be speaking at our CO2 Summit in Indianapolis. What can attendees expect from your presentation?
CO2 is a necessary and beneficial gas but is also a leading cause of global warming due to industrial emissions. My presentation will cover the many essential uses of CO2 and discuss how we are mobilising the entire supply chain to educate policymakers on its importance, and to ensure long-term availability.
Your presentation is set to have a focus on CO2 applications. What would you say is one of the most exciting applications for CO2 right now?
There are so many important and exciting uses for CO2. I mean who doesn’t love a beer and a burger at a baseball game, both of which are made possible by CO2. The timeliest applications are for infrastructure as it is used in welding, since that is a legislative priority for our current administration, and as an essential vaccine transportation tool.
Our nation’s response to the global pandemic might have looked quite different without dry ice, the solid-state of CO2.
What sessions are you most looking forward to at the event?
gasworld always puts on a great conference. This year I’m most interested to hear about carbon capture technology and how the next few years are likely to play out for that sector.
What do you think are the key lessons that can be learned from last year’s CO2 shortage?
We cannot treat CO2 exclusively as the enemy. There are many beneficial and essential uses, including as a water treatment agent, welding gas, food preservative, and greenhouse plant growth enhancer. We must educate lawmakers and regulators about the beneficial uses to avoid unintended consequences of their carbon-reducing legislation.
CO2 Summit 2023
Shortages and sourcing challenges are the headline stories everyone’s talking about in CO2 supply. But the whole carbon dioxide value chain is transforming – as this story itself demonstrates.
Applications are not only emerging and evolving but demanding more of the industry and its sourcing too. That calls for new thinking in CO2 storage and distribution, but it also raises questions over the tracking and management of supply chains. How we see CO2 is changing, shifting from waste disposal to a value chain in its own right. This will see the tonnage utilisation of CO2 evolve beyond recognition.
Join gasworld this September as our North American CO2 Summit 2023 assesses the threats, challenges and opportunities ahead in carbon dioxide – how we find it, source it, purify it and deliver it. Learn about the changing face of CO2; the opportunities in direct air capture (DAC); supply chain strategies; carbon credits and legislation; and so much more.
Tickets are selling fast and sold-out early last year, so book your place now. For more information and how to attend, visit https://gasworldconferences.com/conference/north-american-co2-summit-2023-indianapolis/
