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.
Highlights
In today’s societies, fossil raw materials such as oil, natural gas and coal serve a dual purpose as energy sources and as the main carbon sources for the indispensable organic chemicals and materials fulfilling a plethora of functions in our daily life
The problems associated with the current dependence on fossil feedstocks are well-known: The combustion of fossil resources increases the concentration of the greenhouse gas (GHG) carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere, with CO2 being responsible for about two thirds of the currently observed global temperature increase.[1]
As fossil resources serve as feedstock for imported organic chemicals and plastics, we provide an estimation of the oil consumption for this purpose and introduce production technologies and future visons for a sustainable chemical industry based on the three principle renewable carbon sources biomass, CO2 and recycled plastic waste
Summary
In today’s societies, fossil raw materials such as oil, natural gas and coal serve a dual purpose as energy sources and as the main carbon sources for the indispensable organic chemicals and materials fulfilling a plethora of functions in our daily life. The problems associated with the current dependence on fossil feedstocks are well-known: The combustion of fossil resources increases the concentration of the greenhouse gas (GHG) carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere, with CO2 being responsible for about two thirds of the currently observed global temperature increase.[1] oil and natural gas are finite resources that will be depleted in the few decades. Both issues are exacerbated by the increase in the global population and the standard of living in developing and emerging countries and the associated rise in energy demand. As biomass is the most versatile renewable energy and carbon source, with a limited availability, aspects and proposed strategies for an optimal use are discussed
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