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Deep decarbonisation pathways for the industrial cluster of the Port of Rotterdam

Samadi, Sascha ; Schneider, Clemens and Lechtenböhmer, Stefan LU (2018) 2018 ECEEE Industrial Summer Study on Industrial Efficiency: Leading the Low-Carbon Transition 2018-June. p.399-409
Abstract

The Port of Rotterdam is an important industrial cluster mainly comprising of oil refining, chemical manufacturing and power and steam generation. In 2015, the area accounted for 18 % of the Netherlands' total CO2 emissions. The Port of Rotterdam Authority is aware that the port's economy is heavily exposed to future global and EU decarbonization policies, as the bulk of its activities focuses on trading, handling, converting and using fossil fuels. Based on a study for the Port Authority, our paper explores two possible pathways of how the industrial cluster can keep its strong industrial position and still reduce its CO2 emissions by 98 % by 2050. The "Biomass and CCS" scenario assumes that large amounts of... (More)

The Port of Rotterdam is an important industrial cluster mainly comprising of oil refining, chemical manufacturing and power and steam generation. In 2015, the area accounted for 18 % of the Netherlands' total CO2 emissions. The Port of Rotterdam Authority is aware that the port's economy is heavily exposed to future global and EU decarbonization policies, as the bulk of its activities focuses on trading, handling, converting and using fossil fuels. Based on a study for the Port Authority, our paper explores two possible pathways of how the industrial cluster can keep its strong industrial position and still reduce its CO2 emissions by 98 % by 2050. The "Biomass and CCS" scenario assumes that large amounts of biomass can be supplied sustainably and will be used in the port for power generation as well as for feedstock for refineries and the chemical industry. Fischer-Tropsch fuel generation plays an important role in this scenario, allowing the port to become a key cluster for the production of synthetic fuels and feedstocks in Western Europe. The "Closed Carbon Cycle" scenario assumes that renewables-based electricity will be used at the port to supply heat and hydrogen for the synthetic generation of feedstock for the chemical industry. The carbon required for the chemicals will stem from recycled waste. Technologies particularly needed in this scenario are water electrolysis and gasification or pyrolysis to capture carbon from waste, as well as technologies for the production of base chemicals from syngas. The paper compares both scenarios with regard to their respective technological choices and infrastructural changes. The scenarios' particular opportunities and challenges are also discussed. Using possible future pathways of a major European petrochemical cluster as an example, the paper illustrates options for deep decarbonisation of energy intensive industries in the EU and beyond.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Chemical industry, Circular economy, Decarbonisation, Energy-intensive processing industries, Low carbon industry
host publication
ECEEE Industrial Summer Study on Industrial Efficiency 2018 : Leading the Low-Carbon Transition, Proceedings - Leading the Low-Carbon Transition, Proceedings
volume
2018-June
pages
11 pages
publisher
European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ECEEE)
conference name
2018 ECEEE Industrial Summer Study on Industrial Efficiency: Leading the Low-Carbon Transition
conference location
Kalkscheune, Berlin, Germany
conference dates
2018-06-11 - 2018-06-13
external identifiers
  • scopus:85049896832
ISBN
9789198387827
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
46b7dd1e-66a5-4661-bef7-3b9e8ef090e0
date added to LUP
2018-10-07 09:56:02
date last changed
2022-04-25 17:43:06
@inproceedings{46b7dd1e-66a5-4661-bef7-3b9e8ef090e0,
  abstract     = {{<p>The Port of Rotterdam is an important industrial cluster mainly comprising of oil refining, chemical manufacturing and power and steam generation. In 2015, the area accounted for 18 % of the Netherlands' total CO<sub>2</sub> emissions. The Port of Rotterdam Authority is aware that the port's economy is heavily exposed to future global and EU decarbonization policies, as the bulk of its activities focuses on trading, handling, converting and using fossil fuels. Based on a study for the Port Authority, our paper explores two possible pathways of how the industrial cluster can keep its strong industrial position and still reduce its CO<sub>2</sub> emissions by 98 % by 2050. The "Biomass and CCS" scenario assumes that large amounts of biomass can be supplied sustainably and will be used in the port for power generation as well as for feedstock for refineries and the chemical industry. Fischer-Tropsch fuel generation plays an important role in this scenario, allowing the port to become a key cluster for the production of synthetic fuels and feedstocks in Western Europe. The "Closed Carbon Cycle" scenario assumes that renewables-based electricity will be used at the port to supply heat and hydrogen for the synthetic generation of feedstock for the chemical industry. The carbon required for the chemicals will stem from recycled waste. Technologies particularly needed in this scenario are water electrolysis and gasification or pyrolysis to capture carbon from waste, as well as technologies for the production of base chemicals from syngas. The paper compares both scenarios with regard to their respective technological choices and infrastructural changes. The scenarios' particular opportunities and challenges are also discussed. Using possible future pathways of a major European petrochemical cluster as an example, the paper illustrates options for deep decarbonisation of energy intensive industries in the EU and beyond.</p>}},
  author       = {{Samadi, Sascha and Schneider, Clemens and Lechtenböhmer, Stefan}},
  booktitle    = {{ECEEE Industrial Summer Study on Industrial Efficiency 2018 : Leading the Low-Carbon Transition, Proceedings}},
  isbn         = {{9789198387827}},
  keywords     = {{Chemical industry; Circular economy; Decarbonisation; Energy-intensive processing industries; Low carbon industry}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{01}},
  pages        = {{399--409}},
  publisher    = {{European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ECEEE)}},
  title        = {{Deep decarbonisation pathways for the industrial cluster of the Port of Rotterdam}},
  volume       = {{2018-June}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}