How can CO2 neutral production be attained?

Industry is responsible for roughly 23% of greenhouse gas emissions in Germany. 70% of the industrial energy needs are caused by the energy-intensive branches of industry, for example steel, cement or basic chemistry.

Although there is a broad consensus regarding the target of (almost) CO₂ neutral industrial production by 2050, however, not regarding the sector specific technology paths as well as the political framework conditions and instruments. Examples of decarbonization strategies are the electrification of process heat, the switch to hydrogen or green gas, the increased use of biomass, the market introduction of processes with reduced CO₂, the circulation of CO₂, increasing carbon the expansion of the circular economy as well as more efficient use of materials.

Fraunhofer ISI investigates the development of CO₂ neutral production processes in the industrial sector as well as the influence of concrete instruments on the daily routine of politics and companies. In order to analyze the demand for industrial energy Fraunhofer ISI employs a model with a very high degree of technological detail, which simulates the influence of political instruments and technical change and calculates the impact on the use of energy, CO₂ emissions, costs and investments in the sectors.
 

Kopernikus Project Ariadne

The Kopernikus Project Ariadne is researching which policy instruments are actually suitable to achieve the goals of the Paris Climate Change Agreement. From a better understanding of the effects of individual political measures and policy paths to an overview of the entire system – together with actors from politics, energy system transformation and society, the project is investigating meaningful strategies for energy system transformation and their acceptance by citizens.

Long-term scenarios for the transformation of the energy system in Germany (Long-term scenarios 3)  

On behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy, the project “Long-term scenarios” models different future scenarios for the development of the energy system that are able to achieve the energy and climate policy goals. The model encompasses the entire energy system.  

New trends in energy demand modeling (NewTRENDs)

The aim of NewTRENDs is to increase the qualitative and quantitative understanding of impacts of New Societal Trends on energy consumption and to improve the modelling of energy demand, energy efficiency and policy instruments. Through this, the ability of policy makers to guide those trends in the light of the Paris Agreement and the long-term climate and energy targets of the European Union can be increased.  

Decarbonizing the industrial production (Decarblnd)

Within the project, corner points for roadmaps to decarbonize the steel and concrete industry are created. The corner points show which techniques and measures can be implemented by the cement and steel industry until the year 2030 and which additional measures are relevant until the year 2050.

Industrial Innovation: Pathways to deep decarbonisation of industry

The project aims to assess possible decarbonisation pathways for the EU industry sector towards 2050. It combines a detailed analysis of technology characteristics with a bottom-up modeling of industrial energy demand and GHG emissions using the model FORECAST. Alternative scenarios will be defined to learn about the possible contribution of individual technologies and mitigation options.  

• Fleiter, T.; Lotz, M. Th.; Arens, M.; Schlomann, B. (2021): An overview of implemented and planned policy instruments to decarbonize basic material industries in Germany. Fraunhofer ISI Working Paper 01/2021. Karlsruhe: Fraunhofer ISI.
• Radgen, P.; Leisin, M.; Flatau, R.; Aydemir, A.; Fritz, M.; Neusel, L.; Arens, M. (2020): Exergie und Wirtschaft. Untersuchung der Transformationspfade von Hauptprozessen in der deutschen Wirtschaft mit dem Ziel der Dekarbonisierung auf der Grundlage von exergetischen Analysen und Untersuchung der Auswirkungen möglicher Veränderungen auf den Schutz der natürlichen Ressourcen und der natürlichen Umwelt. In: Climate Change 26/2020. Umwelt Bundesamt: Dessau.
• Rehfeldt, M.; Globisch, J.; Fleiter, T. (2019): Fuel Choice in industrial steam generation: Empirical evidence reveals technology preferences. In: Energy Strategy Reviews. 26 (2019), 100407.
  
• Fleiter, T.; Herbst, A.; Rehfeldt, M.; Arens, M. (2019): Industrial Innovation: Pathways to deep decarbonisation of Industry. Part 2: Scenario analysis and pathways to deep decarbonisation. ICF and Fraunhofer ISI.
  
• Chan, Y.; Petithuguenin, L.; Fleiter, T.; Herbst, A.; Arens, M., Stevenson, P. (2019): Industrial Innovation: Pathways to deep decarbonisation of Industry. Part 1: Technology Analysis. ICF and Fraunhofer ISI.
• Fleiter, T.; Rehfeldt, M.; Herbst, A.; Elsland, R.; Klingler, A.-L.; Manz, P.; Eidelloth, S. (2018): A methodology for bottom-up modelling of energy transitions in the industry sector: The FORECAST model. In: Energy Strategy Reviews, 22 (2018), S. 237-254.
  
• Rehfeldt, M.; Fleiter, T.; Worrell, E. (2018): Inter-fuel substitution in European industry: A random utility approach on industrial heat demand. In: Journal of Cleaner Production, June 2018, pp. 98 - 110.