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2.2 TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE ENERGY TRANSITION, EMISSIONS REDUCTION
2.2 TECHNOLOGIES
FOR THE ENERGY TRANSITION, EMISSIONS REDUCTION
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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 pro-
duces 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.
ENABLER OF THE ENERGY TRANSITION
ACCELERATING TOWARDS CARBON NEUTRALITY ENABLER OF AN HYDROGEN ECONOMY
FERTILIZERS: IMPROVERS OF MORE SUSTAINABLE PROCESSES AND PRODUCTS CO INTERNAL TASK FORCE
IMPROVER OF ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCES OF THE TRADITIONAL PLANTS
NEW POWER: ENABLER OF A SUSTAINABLE USE OF GAS AS A CO-PLAYER IN ENERGY TRANSITION AND DEVELOPER OF RENEWABLES PETROCHEMICALS: ENABLER OF PLASTICS SUSTAINABILITY ACROSS LIFE CYCLE
GREEN LOGISTIC PLAN
We have launched a Plan to promote more sustainable logistics, and this will enable us to reduce transport-related CO2 emissions, to which we contribute indirectly. Our commitment over the coming years will be concentrated primarily on optimizing container saturation, incentivising the tyre/train trade-off, limiting air transport and promoting rail travel, engaging our suppliers in promoting fleet upgrades, encouraging the use of alternative fuels and if possible replacing refrigerants and lubricants. Product packaging will also be carefully evaluated, from the choice of materials to potential reductions in volume, to the possibilities of reverse logistics and recovery or recycling. Digitization has already allowed us to save much in terms of the paper used for transport documentation.
For 2021, the projects of our subsidiary NextChem include plants for the production of renewable diesel and 2G ethanol, circular ethanol, circular methanol, circular hydrogen and green hydrogen. Our contribution to
the fight against climate change will not only be to reduce the emissions from our activities, our People and our construction sites and from the transport of components for our
plants: thanks to our technologies, we will also make a contribution in terms of enabling our clients.
PARTICIPATED IN
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CONFERENCES
PRESENTING ITS ROADMAP FOR THE ENERGY TRANSITION
AND DISCUSSING TECHNOLOGICAL ISSUES RELATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF GREEN CHEMISTRY AND THE TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY REDUCING OUR EMISSIONS: OUR PATH TO CARBON NEUTRALITY BY 2050
An important step awaiting our Group in the coming years is the definition of a plan with progressive emissions reduction targets – initially these will be direct, then indirect – and targets for the compensation of hard-to-abate emissions.
In 2021, the Maire Tecnimont Group will launch a substantial effort to adopt the recommendations of the Financial Stability Board Strategy and Science Based Targets set by the Task Force on Climate-related Finan-
cial Disclosure (TCFD), without losing sight of the indications coming from the definition of the technical criteria for European taxonomy, which are currently being elaborated.
To this end, we will be activating all the engineering skills already possessed by the Maire Tecnimont Group companies, in relation to CO2, for which a specific Task Force will be set up. In parallel, the Maire Tecnimont Group will implement a compensation plan, building on what has already been achieved in terms of planting trees, and extending what is already the Maire Tecnimont Forest.
Our commitment to reducing the Maire Tecnimont Group’s direct and indirect emissions continues, with lines of action on various fronts:
Reducing energy consumption at our workplaces; Energy efficiency projects for our construction sites; Measures related to the car fleet and business travel; Employee Awareness campaigns relating to energy saving and sustainable mobility; Supplier engagement; Launch of targeted carbon neutrality projects on some of our activities; The mapping of Scope 3 emissions and the drawing up of a plan to minimize indirect emissions (bought-in goods, transport, waste, travel, commuting); A specific line of action on logistics and transport.
LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT
The Maire Tecnimont Group is actively committed to optimizing energy consumption through “LCA” (Life Cycle Assessment) energy diagnostics, which evaluate the potential impact of a product (a good or service) on the environment throughout its life cycle.
NextChem first adopted LCAs in 2020, when it began to use an online tool for reference standards (ISO 14040 and 14044) in order to assess the environmental impact of its technologies, especially in terms of reducing GHG emissions. This tool, together with our extensive knowledge of the manufacturing processes of the various products, allows us to carry out very accurate, reliable analyses, which we can then use to select the best technologies to be utilized at industrial level.
We have already applied this methodology on our proprietary technologies to produce renewable diesel and for the upcycling of plastic, with very promising results that have assisted us further in developing these technologies.
During 2021, energy diagnostics for emissions reduction will also be used by the other divisions of the Maire Tecnimont Group and in particular for the “Sustainable Sites” pilot project.
Petrochemicals (polymers) - Develop a strategy on plastics sustainability across life cycle, including a range of recycling solutions that can improve Countries’ recycling rates and reduce incineration and landfill, also in partnership with the supply chain and leveraging education for correct consumption and waste management.
