Towards Net Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Energy and Chemical Sectors in Switzerland and Beyond - A Review

Abstract

In today's societies, climate-damaging and finite fossil resources such as oil and natural gas serve a dual purpose as energy source and as carbon source for chemicals and plastics. To respond to the finite availability and to meet international climate goals, a change to a renewable energy and raw material basis is inevitable and represents a highly complex task. In this review, we assess possible technology paths for Switzerland to reach these goals. First, we provide an overview of Switzerland's current energy demand and discuss possible renewable technologies as well as proposed scenarios to defossilize the current energy system. In here, electric vehicles and heat pumps are key technologies, whereas mainly photovoltaics replace nuclear power to deliver clean electricity. The production of chemicals also consumes fossil resources and for Switzerland, the oil demand for imported domestically used chemicals and plastics corresponds to around 20% of the current energetic oil demand. Thus, we additionally summarize technologies and visions for a sustainable chemical sector based on the renewable carbon sources biomass, CO2 and recycled plastic. As biomass is the most versatile renewable energy and carbon source, although with a limited availability, aspects and proposed strategies for an optimal use are discussed.

Advanced (photo)electrocatalytic approaches to substitute the use of fossil fuels in chemical production

“…Defossilization of chemical production to meet targets, such as net-zero emissions by the year 2050, is a challenge influencing research directions. [1][2][3][4][5] Catalysis is affected by this radical transformation for its crucial role in chemical processes with the electrification of the chemical processes being a central area of investigation today. [6][7][8][9] Future chemical production will critically depend on developing new catalytic processes using directly renewable energy and alternative carbon raw materials to achieve an ultra-low carbon footprint.…”