REINVENT organised a stakeholder workshop on Closed Loop Biogenic Carbon Economy, hosted by the European Environmental Agency in Copenhagen, involving experts from the industry, policy and research.

Background: The chemicals industry is one of the hard to “decarbonise” sectors and carbon will continue to be a key building block in fuels, organic chemicals and plastics. Promising technologies are being developed and tested with carbon dioxide, electricity and hydrogen as input. Transition pathways are emerging through the work of Cefic and Dechema and through research efforts such as Voltachem and Reinvent. It is high time to strategize around such transition pathways and analyse what steps are needed in the short (5-10 yrs) and medium (10-20 yrs) term.  

Objective: Explore and discuss pathways for a climate neutral carbon economy. What are the resource, geographic and sectoral coupling implications? What markets, partnerships and capabilities are needed? What are the implications for future policy and research?

Approach: Two thematic sessions. Each session starts with 2-3 impulse talks (in total 30 minutes by research, industry and policy reps) and is followed by discussion (60 minutes).

Programme

12.00-13.00        Light lunch is served

13.00-13.30    Welcome by Hans Bruyninckx, Executive Director EEA. 

Introduction to the workshop by Lars J Nilsson.

13.30-15.00        Session 1: Imagine resources, flows, geographies and system integration in 2050

A closed loop carbon economy will reshape the industrial landscape in many aspects. Feedstock will be sourced differently, electricity demand will increase, assets may be stranded or converted. What are the challenges in policy, research and industry?

Speakers: Clemens Schneider (Wuppertal Institute), Cedric Philibert (IEA), Eric Appelman (Brightlands)

15.00-15.30        Coffee

15.30-17.00        Session 2: Imagine early markets, new partnerships, capabilities and industrial policy

Markets may be in bulk and policy driven (e.g., jet fuel) or in niches and voluntary (e.g., polyester in outdoor clothing). New partnerships with waste industries, power companies, forestry and agriculture may follow and EU policy must be aligned. Who needs to do what and when to accelerate the transition?

Speakers: Antti Valle (DG GROW), Fredric Bauer (Reinvent), Nico van Dooren (Port of Rotterdam)