Modelling assessment of resource competition for renewable basic chemicals and the effect of recycling
Abstract This work assesses pathways towards a net‐zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions chemical industry sector in Germany until 2050, focusing on the ammonia, methanol, ethylene and adipic acid subsectors and the effect of the recycling of C embedded in chemical end products on the GHG abatement co...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2024-04-01
|
| Series: | GCB Bioenergy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.13133 |
| _version_ | 1797242685589815296 |
|---|---|
| author | Frazer Musonda Markus Millinger Daniela Thrän |
| author_facet | Frazer Musonda Markus Millinger Daniela Thrän |
| author_sort | Frazer Musonda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This work assesses pathways towards a net‐zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions chemical industry sector in Germany until 2050, focusing on the ammonia, methanol, ethylene and adipic acid subsectors and the effect of the recycling of C embedded in chemical end products on the GHG abatement cost and primary resource demand. This was done using a bottom‐up mathematical optimization model, including the energy sectors and the chemicals sector, with electricity and biobased options considered. Results show that net‐zero GHG emissions for the considered chemicals in 2050 are attainable at a marginal cost of 640–900 €/tCO2‐eq, even with 26%–36% of demand being satisfied by fossil production routes. This is possible because renewable organic chemicals can act as carbon sinks if, at their end of life, C is permanently stored via landfilling or passed on to the next value chain via recycling. Nonetheless, considering the cost implications, the practical deployment of renewable chemicals is a challenge. The considered renewable chemicals cost 1.3–8 times more than their fossil counterparts, resulting in a marginal CO2 price of 480 €/tCO2‐eq when all primary resources (energy crops, forest residues and renewable electricity) are considered, or 810 €/tCO2‐eq when the availability of arable land is restricted. In the transition to net‐zero emissions for the chemicals under study, a circular economy is important not only for reducing demand for primary resources as is typically the case but also reduces GHG abatement costs by 13%–24% through carbon capture and utilization effects. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:43:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5f8eb49c398542bfba42a1553f2e223c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1757-1693 1757-1707 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:43:09Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | GCB Bioenergy |
| spelling | doaj.art-5f8eb49c398542bfba42a1553f2e223c2024-03-27T08:44:29ZengWileyGCB Bioenergy1757-16931757-17072024-04-01164n/an/a10.1111/gcbb.13133Modelling assessment of resource competition for renewable basic chemicals and the effect of recyclingFrazer Musonda0Markus Millinger1Daniela Thrän2Department of Bioenergy Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research–UFZ Permoserstraße 15 Leipzig GermanyDepartment of Space, Earth and Environment Chalmers University of Technology Göteborg SwedenDepartment of Bioenergy Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research–UFZ Permoserstraße 15 Leipzig GermanyAbstract This work assesses pathways towards a net‐zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions chemical industry sector in Germany until 2050, focusing on the ammonia, methanol, ethylene and adipic acid subsectors and the effect of the recycling of C embedded in chemical end products on the GHG abatement cost and primary resource demand. This was done using a bottom‐up mathematical optimization model, including the energy sectors and the chemicals sector, with electricity and biobased options considered. Results show that net‐zero GHG emissions for the considered chemicals in 2050 are attainable at a marginal cost of 640–900 €/tCO2‐eq, even with 26%–36% of demand being satisfied by fossil production routes. This is possible because renewable organic chemicals can act as carbon sinks if, at their end of life, C is permanently stored via landfilling or passed on to the next value chain via recycling. Nonetheless, considering the cost implications, the practical deployment of renewable chemicals is a challenge. The considered renewable chemicals cost 1.3–8 times more than their fossil counterparts, resulting in a marginal CO2 price of 480 €/tCO2‐eq when all primary resources (energy crops, forest residues and renewable electricity) are considered, or 810 €/tCO2‐eq when the availability of arable land is restricted. In the transition to net‐zero emissions for the chemicals under study, a circular economy is important not only for reducing demand for primary resources as is typically the case but also reduces GHG abatement costs by 13%–24% through carbon capture and utilization effects.https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.13133biochemicalsbiogenic CO2GHG abatementrecyclingrenewable chemicalsrenewable hydrogen |
| spellingShingle | Frazer Musonda Markus Millinger Daniela Thrän Modelling assessment of resource competition for renewable basic chemicals and the effect of recycling GCB Bioenergy biochemicals biogenic CO2 GHG abatement recycling renewable chemicals renewable hydrogen |
| title | Modelling assessment of resource competition for renewable basic chemicals and the effect of recycling |
| title_full | Modelling assessment of resource competition for renewable basic chemicals and the effect of recycling |
| title_fullStr | Modelling assessment of resource competition for renewable basic chemicals and the effect of recycling |
| title_full_unstemmed | Modelling assessment of resource competition for renewable basic chemicals and the effect of recycling |
| title_short | Modelling assessment of resource competition for renewable basic chemicals and the effect of recycling |
| title_sort | modelling assessment of resource competition for renewable basic chemicals and the effect of recycling |
| topic | biochemicals biogenic CO2 GHG abatement recycling renewable chemicals renewable hydrogen |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.13133 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT frazermusonda modellingassessmentofresourcecompetitionforrenewablebasicchemicalsandtheeffectofrecycling AT markusmillinger modellingassessmentofresourcecompetitionforrenewablebasicchemicalsandtheeffectofrecycling AT danielathran modellingassessmentofresourcecompetitionforrenewablebasicchemicalsandtheeffectofrecycling |