Greenhouse gas-neutral chemistry is technically feasible

The German chemical industry can almost completely reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by the middle of the century – with the help of new production technologies. This requires favorable framework conditions, above all large quantities of green electricity at low prices. This is the outcome of a study that was mandated by the German chemical industry association Verband der Chemischen Industrie (VCI) and carried out by the society for chemical engineering and biotechnology DECHEMA and the consulting firm FutureCamp.

The analysis also examined the prerequisites for the industry to become greenhouse gas-neutral by 2050. Beside the development of new methods mainly in basic chemistry, this calls for a permanently low industrial electricity price and considerable volumes of emission-free electricity from renewable sources.

VCI director-general Wolfgang Große Entrup explained that the study was the result of the industry’s long and intensive climate protection efforts. He stated to journalists in Berlin: “The German chemical industry is committed to greenhouse gas neutrality as a societal task. We want to successfully follow this way by 2050. As a German industry, we hope to be the trailblazer for a technological transformation of the chemical industry worldwide.” In order to support the companies in this process, the VCI plans to set up a new platform that brings together expertise from a wide range of different sectors and intends to cover the entire value chain from manufacturers and final consumers to politicians and society as a whole.

Klaus Schäfer, chief technology officer of Covestro AG and chairman of the VCI Committee on Energy, Climate Protection and Raw Materials, presented the content of the VCI study and gave some relevant explanations: “The required CO₂-free processes for the production of basic chemials are known today in principle, but they need to be further developed and brought to market maturity for large-scale use. Their application is thinkable from the mid-2030s onwards”. Schäfer adds: “In technological terms, it is conceivable to have a largely climate-neutral chemical production in Germany in 2050. But all the prerequisites must be right. The companies can only drive forward the trans-formation to zero emissions if they remain competitive in each phase and have large volumes of renewable, low cost electricity at their disposal.”

Analysing three development paths

The study is entitled “Auf dem Weg zu einer treibhausgasneutralen chemischen Industrie in Deutschland“ (towards a greenhouse gas-neutral chemical industriy in Germany). Based on three different levels of amibition, it describes the develop¬ments over the next decades:

In a reference path, the German chemical industry would keep producing with today’s technologies while further increasing its efficiency through continuous investments. In this scenario, the industry would be able to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 27 percent to 2050, compared with the level of 2020.

In a second technology path, even 61 percent reduction is possible if the companies additionally invest heavily in new process technologies for basic chemicals. However, this level of ambition comes with a very high demand for renewable electricity of 224 terawat hours per year – which corresponds to the total volume of electricity from renewables in Germany in 2018. Additional investments in new plants amount ca. 15 billion euros.

The third path of greenhouse gas-neutrality presupposes even more far-reaching measures. It closes the gap to a complete CO₂ reduction. Here, the companies would introduce new process technologies for CO₂ cuts already before these become economically viable. For the production of the six basic chemicals examined in the study alone, the companies would need to additionally invest around 45 billion euros from 2020 to 2050. Also, the electricity demand would once more rise rapidly from the mid-2030s onwards. Reaching 628 terawatt hours, if would roughly match the level of today’s total electricity production in Germany.

The necessary framework conditions

For Klaus Schäfer, the outcome of the study shows that it is difficult to achieve greenhouse gas-neutral chemistry without favourable framework conditions. Schäfer said: “The greater the ambition with which the German chemical industry pursues the goal of greenhouse gas neutrality, the more the associated costs and the electricity requirement will rise. It is the task of politicians to actively accompany new techno¬logies in all phases from development to market launch. Another political task is to keep up the international competitiveness of the chemical industry at the location Germany.” According to Schäfer, this can be done either through a global climate protection agreement or support from the public administration.

For Schäfer, low electricity prices are paramount on the road to greenhouse gas neutrality. He stated: “The new processes are only economically viable in Germany before 2050 at electricity costs of 4 cents per kilowatt hour. At present, we are still far away from this price. Therefore, politicians will have to take further measures to curb electricity prices for industry, additionally to existing burden easing and carbon leakage rules.” Schäfer noted that already 50 percent higher electricity costs – i..e. 6 cents per kilowat hour – would move the economic viability of most processes to a time well beyond 2050.

About the VCI

The VCI represents the politico-economic interests of around 1,700 German chemical companies and German subsidiaries of foreign businesses. For this purpose, the VCI is in contact with politicians, public authorities, other industries, science and media.The VCI stands for over 90 percent of the chemical industry in Germany. In 2018 the German chemical industry realised sales of 203 billion euros and employed ca. 462,500 staff.

Source

VCI, press release, 2019-10-09.

Supplier

DECHEMA Gesellschaft für Chemische Technik und Biotechnologie e.V.
FutureCamp
VCI – Verband der Chemischen Industrie e.V.

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