Chemical Verbund sites and refineries are the backbone of the European industry, prosperity and comfort. But to match the urgency of action and tackle climate change seriously, a transformation of these large structures is indispensable. A sustainable development is only possible if chemistry decouples from fossil carbon sources. This transformation needs to happen quickly and on a large scale. If Europe’s chemical industry fails to transform, these structures could be lost and Europe will become totally dependent on China and the Gulf states. Politics plays a big role here, but is not fully aware of the big challenge and does not yet have comprehensive concepts for a chemical industry of the future.

What are the challenges in detail?

• New feedstocks from biomass, biogenic waste, CO2 plus hydrogen, or even plastic waste via chemical recycling must be integrated.
• The product portfolio has to change significantly. Much less gasoline and diesel fuels, but a strong focus on chemicals and derived materials.
• Sustainable aviation fuel from biomass, CO2 and chemical recycling will probably be the first new large-volume application.
• Naphtha and crackers: What will become of this pathway, is it to be redesigned and/or will other processes and intermediates become the starting point? Ethanol and methanol, lignin?
• What role will electrochemistry play?

What are the solutions for a future-proof chemical industry in Europe? These questions will be discussed with leading experts from the industry and market and strategy research:

• Michael Carus, nova-Institute (DE): Challenges for European Refineries and Big Chemical Sides for Transition to Renewable Carbon
• Gillian Tweddle, nova-Institute (DE): Refineries ? who needs them?
• Hans Rovers, New Normal (NL): Collaboration needed to achieve 55% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and net zero by 2050
• Peter Orth, OPC (DE): Circular Feedstock for the Chemical and Plastics Industry ? Needs and Expectations
• Lars B?rger, NESTE (FI): Renewable Carbon and future refinery concepts
• J?rg Dehmel, Shell (DE): Energy Transformation ? Shifting Towards Sustainable Chemicals and Energy Products in Shell?s Rheinland Site
• Sylvain Verdier, Haldor Topsoe (DK): Technology innovation for the petrochemical industry transition: Topsoe story from green methanol to chemical recycling
• Okko Ringena, UPM (DE/FI): Make it happen: Implementing a first-of-its-kind industrial scale biorefinery
• Ludo Diels, VITO (BE): Lignin to aromatics and the role in a recycling economy

All speakers have confirmed to be on-site at the W?llhaf Conference Center in the Airport Cologne/Bonn, Room 7, 31 March 2022, 10:00 ? 17:00

Registration fee

• On-site: 495 ? (plus VAT)
• Online: 395 ? (plus VAT)

A maximum of 30 participants can be present on site. Please register quickly. From the 20th registration onwards, we will open a waiting list from which we will select the other 10 participants (e.g. only one person per company). Online, the number of participants is unlimited.

» Author: Marion Kupfer

» Publication Date: 01/03/2022

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