2
FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE
2.2 TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE ENERGY TRANSITION, EMISSIONS REDUCTION THE CHEMISTRY OF WASTE, BIOCHEMISTRY AND ELECTROCHEMISTRY ARE THE PATHS TOWARDS THE DECARBONIZATION OF TRADITIONAL , HARD-TO-ABATE INDUSTRY The pivot point of this transition is to replace or recover the carbon used in processes. Chemical engineering is, by its nature, an enabler of this challenge: we must look for carbon molecules anywhere else other than in fossil fuels. But where? The answer is quite simple: everywhere. Carbon molecules can be found in every element of our daily
life, both in nature and in the synthetic products of our modern industry. What we call “waste” is a treasure trove of carbon molecules that can be regenerated. We call this waste chemistry. We have developed technologies to create new molecules from the conversion of waste, through a process that produces a synthetic gas. This forms the basis for producing new “circular” molecules used to create products such as circular chemicals and circular fuels, all with a lower carbon impact than products derived from fossil sources. Biochemistry searches for the molecules that serve to replace oil and gas
in agricultural, vegetal, fat-based and cellulosic residues. Also in this case, molecules derived from biochemical transformation processes can be considered “circular”, if they derive from second-generation waste biomass. We have developed several technologies in this area, for the production of biofuels, intermediates for biolubricants, and other chemicals. Then there is electrochemistry, the use of electricity to produce chemicals from water, for example. This is the case of electrolysis used to produce hydrogen, which will be green hydrogen if the starting electron is renewable. We are also working on ambitious projects on this third track.
CLIMATE, CIRCULAR ECONOMY, ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY ENABLER OF THE ENERGY TRANSITION
ACCELERATING TOWARDS CARBON NEUTRALITY
FERTILIZERS: IMPROVERS OF MORE SUSTAINABLE PROCESSES AND PRODUCTS
ENABLER OF AN HYDROGEN ECONOMY
CO INTERNAL TASK FORCE
NEW POWER: ENABLER OF A SUSTAINABLE USE OF GAS AS A CO-PLAYER IN ENERGY TRANSITION AND DEVELOPER OF RENEWABLES
60
CREATING VALUE
IMPROVER OF ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCES OF THE TRADITIONAL PLANTS
PETROCHEMICALS: ENABLER OF PLASTICS SUSTAINABILITY ACROSS LIFE CYCLE
