Lucas Desport

Dr. Lucas Desport is a Postdoctoral Associate at the MIT Center for Sustainability Science and Strategy (CS3). He holds a master degree in HVAC and energy engineering from INSA Strasbourg, and a specialization in Energy Systems Optimization from Mines Paris – PSL. He obtained his PhD from Mines Paris – PSL in Control, Optimization and Prospective. His doctoral research focused on the modeling of carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) technologies in an economy-wide model, and a technology-rich, partial equilibrium model, developed by CS3 and Mines Paris – PSL respectively. The technologies implemented encompass CCUS in industry, electricity, biorefineries, hydrogen manufacturing, synthetic fuels production, mineralization, and direct air capture. The results delivered by both models highlighted the key role of CCS in decarbonizing the global energy system, especially through negative emissions in the steel and cement sectors, but the uncertain role of CO₂ utilization and direct air capture.

At CS3, Dr. Desport’s research investigates the drivers and implications of alternative pathways for decarbonizing fuels in net-zero global energy systems. This work uses the MIT Emissions Projection and Policy Analysis (EPPA) model to analyze the role of multiple technologies and policies in abating persistent fossil CO₂ emissions in long-term mitigation strategies.