Switching to renewable power and hydrogen is one of the main solutions for the chemical industry to significantly reduce emissions, explained Cefic Director General Marco Mensink, speaking at a RE-Source event on corporate renewable energy procurement in Amsterdam the past two days.
In his keynote address,Mensink stressed that the chemical industry will need a massive amount ofaffordable renewable energy in the future to enable the transition to a lowerindustrial carbon footprint. “To meet the net neutral Europe target, ourindustry alone would require renewable power equivalent to 3.5 times Germany’scurrent total electricity consumption”, Mensink highlighted.
As electrification is a prime option for several sectors to reduce their greenhouse gas footprint; this will create huge competition for access to a limited resource. “For the industry to stay competitive in Europe, it is key that increased demand for electricity is still available at affordable prices”, Mensink stated.
Another key takeaway of the two-daydiscussions was that governments should play their part in facilitating morecompanies to source renewables, in particular by developing the supportinginfrastructure that will allow chemical companies getting access to thesealternative energy sources.
Cefic is a partner ofthe RE-SourcePlatform, which pools resources and coordinates activities topromote a better policy framework for corporate renewable energy sourcing. TheRE-Source event is a positive initiative and an excellent catalyst forrenewable electricity, as it brings together industrial consumers andrenewables producers encouraging them to talk and engage – and understand eachother better.