LAPSE:2023.1959
Published Article
LAPSE:2023.1959
Development of Concepts for a Climate-Neutral Chemical−Pharmaceutical Industry in 2045
Alexander Uhl, Axel Schmidt, Christoph Jensch, Dirk Köster, Jochen Strube
February 21, 2023
Global primary energy consumption has increased tenfold over the course of the 20th Century, the availability of non-renewable energy is becoming scarce, and the burning of fossil fuels is leading to global warming. Climate change has now become tangible. The will to act against fossil fuels has become apparent in the western world, and in Germany in particular. This poses a particular challenge for the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, since, in the future, not only will the energy input, but also the feedstock, have to come from non-fossil sources. They must be replaced by carbon capture and utilization, and the exploitation of a circular economy. Concepts for a climate-neutral chemical−pharmaceutical industry have been developed and evaluated. Due to a high predicted consumption of renewable energies and an insufficient expansion of these, Germany will remain an energy importer in the future. The largest consumer in a climate-neutral chemical−pharmaceutical industry will be electrolysis for hydrogen (up to 81%, 553 TWh/a). This can be circumvented by importing green ammonia and cracking. This will require investments of EUR 155 bn. An additional benefit will be increased independence from fossil resource imports, as green ammonia can be produced in a multitude of nations with strong potential for renewable energies and a diversified set of exporting nations.
Keywords
circular economy, climate neutrality, global warming potential, green technology, power-to-X, Process Intensification, Renewable and Sustainable Energy, section coupling
Suggested Citation
Uhl A, Schmidt A, Jensch C, Köster D, Strube J. Development of Concepts for a Climate-Neutral Chemical−Pharmaceutical Industry in 2045. (2023). LAPSE:2023.1959
Author Affiliations
Uhl A: Institute for Separation and Process Technology, Clausthal University of Technology, Leibnizstr. 15, 38678 Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany
Schmidt A: Institute for Separation and Process Technology, Clausthal University of Technology, Leibnizstr. 15, 38678 Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany [ORCID]
Jensch C: Institute for Separation and Process Technology, Clausthal University of Technology, Leibnizstr. 15, 38678 Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany
Köster D: Institute for Separation and Process Technology, Clausthal University of Technology, Leibnizstr. 15, 38678 Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany [ORCID]
Strube J: Institute for Separation and Process Technology, Clausthal University of Technology, Leibnizstr. 15, 38678 Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany
Journal Name
Processes
Volume
10
Issue
7
First Page
1289
Year
2022
Publication Date
2022-06-30
Published Version
ISSN
2227-9717
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PII: pr10071289, Publication Type: Journal Article
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LAPSE:2023.1959
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doi:10.3390/pr10071289
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