Sustainability

transformation of chemical industry

Does chemistry have to reinvent itself in the energy crisis?

As an energy-intensive sector, the chemical industry accounts for around 10.5 percent of German energy consumption. The proportion is even higher for natural gas and electricity, the industry's two most important energy sources.

energy supply and price development

Energy supply and price development

The “German Angst” is spreading in Germany and Europe. German consumers in particular are turning to electricity-based heating appliances, just as they did with toilet paper in the past.

Klimawandel KI

Renewable energies for heating and cooling

In future, municipal heating networks will have to play an even greater role in the supply of heat from renewable energies, as they can be used to tap into heat sources such as deep geothermal energy, industrial waste heat or ground-mounted solar thermal energy.

Kohlenstoffabscheidung und Kohlenstoffspeicherung

Offshore Carbon-Capture- und Storage

According to the United Nations, the risk of at least temporary global warming of 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels has risen to 50 percent over the next five years.

bioraffinerien chemische industry

Farewell to Oil

The chemical industry is in the midst of a revolutionary transformation process in which the circular economy, recycling, sustainability and biorefineries are elementary building blocks for the goal of climate neutrality.

bioenergie aus mikroalgen

Bioenergy from microalgae

Microalgae can reach lipid contents of up to 70 percent and starch contents of up to 60 percent. They grow considerably faster than land plants and require hardly any nutrients or pesticides.

grüner wasserstoff

Green hydrogen is changing the geopolitical map of the world

The actual demand for green hydrogen is not expected to pick up until the mid-2030s. IRENA estimates that green hydrogen could cover up to 12 percent of global energy consumption by 2050, with almost a third being traded across borders.

festkörperelektrolyt für batterien aus gummi

A solid-state electrolyte for batteries made of rubber?

Major battery manufacturers such as CATL and SK Innovation are currently researching alternative solid-state batteries in order to optimize problems such as a lack of sustainability and safety. Inorganic ceramic material or organic polymers are usually used here.

polxmerkleber; chemieindustrie

A different kind of polymer adhesive

An adhesive that simply cheats its way between a carbon-hydrogen bond and thus chemically holds polymers together permanently that are otherwise difficult or impossible to bond.

grüne inflation; klimaneutralität

Green inflation?

According to the DIW, other causes are also playing a role in the inflation debate, such as the coronavirus pandemic, supply chain problems, global trade conflicts and VAT adjustments.