Decarbonization in industry

In 2010, the German government set a target for Germany to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 to 95% by 2050 compared to 1990 levels. The Climate Protection Plan 2050 reaffirms this target.

In the ranking of the 5 largest CO₂ emitters, industry ranks second with around 181 million tons (in 2017) and thus represents one of the main areas for decarbonization alongside the energy-producing industry. Within industry, the steel industry is the undisputed number one emitter, followed by refineries, the cement industry, and the chemical industry. One example is Germany’s largest steel mill, ThyssenKrupp’s integrated steel mill near Duisburg, which emits around eight million metric tons of CO₂ per year, more than the last three of the ten largest power plants combined.

Achieving the target set in 2010 and combating climate change in general can therefore only be realized if the energy-rich industrial sectors significantly reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. This is precisely where innovative companies come in, driving the use of residual or waste heat in energy-intensive industry through research and development of new storage systems. The storage of discontinuous thermal energy and the utilization of high temperatures contribute to a significant increase in efficiency. After all, every recycled kilowatt hour means savings in primary energy sources and thus in greenhouse gases. Support programs such as the “Decarbonization of Industry” program of the Competence Center Climate protection in the energy-intensive industry (Source), commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), provide funding totaling around 2 billion euros for implementation.

The existing funding landscape demonstrates the political will to achieve the climate targets (climate protection target 2030 / greenhouse gas neutrality by 2050). In cooperation with companies that offer highly efficient storage systems and assist in integrating them into existing processes, the way is clear for the industry.