Monthly news from the Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI), November 2024
Let's take a look at what happened in November 2024 at RCI:
1) RCI’s Scientific Background Report:
On 19 November 2024, the RCI published the Scientific Background Report “Evaluation of Recent Reports on the Future of a Net-Zero Chemical Industry in 2050” which assesses 24 scenarios from 15 studies to envision a net-zero chemical industry by 2050. The analysis anticipates continued growth in chemical production, projecting a 2.4-fold increase in global feedstock demand by 2050 compared to 2020 levels, with most expansion expected outside Europe while European feedstock volumes remain stable. To achieve net-zero emissions, the industry is projected to undergo a significant shift in feedstocks, with key renewable carbon sources identified as biomass (22%), carbon capture and utilisation (33%), and recycling (20%), while the remaining 24% comes from fossil sources with carbon capture and storage. For plastics specifically, recycling is expected to play an even larger role, accounting for 42% of feedstocks on average. This transition will require continued innovation and investment in renewable carbon technologies to meet ambitious defossilisation goals.
This report is module 1 of the “Comprehensive Assessment and Evaluation of Policy Measures and Instruments” project which is coming up.
Find the full report here: https://renewable-carbon.eu/publications/product/evaluation-of-recent-reports-on-the-future-of-a-net-zero-chemical-industry-in-2050-pdf/
Find the portal news here: https://renewable-carbon.eu/news/renewable-carbon-feedstocks-building-a-net-zero-chemical-industry-in-2050/
2) Tour of the BioWanze ethanol biorefinery – hosted by CropEnergies, ePURE and RCI
On 27 November 2024, CropEnergies, ePURE, and RCI invited several policy analysts from the European Commission to an exclusive tour of the BioWanze ethanol biorefinery in Wanze, Belgium. The event provided an exceptional opportunity to witness first-hand the cutting-edge processes driving the defossilisation of European industry.
The visit began with a warm welcome and introduction to BioWanze, where participants gained insight into the biorefinery's innovative operations. This was followed by an extensive on-site tour, during which attendees observed the many steps of the biorefinery in action. Participants witnessed how feed wheat from European farmers is transformed into a variety of valuable products, including renewable ethanol, natural fertilizer, gluten, protein substitutes, bran fiber, and biogenic CO2. The tour highlighted the essential role of bioethanol in reducing Europe's dependence on fossil resources, thereby making a significant contribution to the EU's sustainability goals.
Throughout the plant tour, open discussions, exchanges, and networking opportunities focused on the role of bioethanol in energy, fuels, and chemicals, as well as the defossilisation of industry. These interactions brought together policymakers and industry leaders, exploring how policy interacts with and potentially enables bioethanol's critical role in the future of sustainable industry in Europe.
3) Free RCI Webinar: Discover Innovative Startups with RCI
On 27 November 2024, from 14:00 to 15:00 CET, RCI’s webinar brought together a vibrant audience to experience cutting-edge innovations from eight RCI startups. The webinar highlighted the latest innovations in advanced food and plastic waste utilisation and Direct Air Capture (DAC) technologies.
65 attendees were treated to compelling 10-minute pitches (7 minutes presentations, 3 minutes Q&A) from each startup – from circular chemicals to sustainable CO₂ and hydrogen solutions, the entrepreneurial spirit on display was nothing short of inspiring.
- Marc den Hartog, ChainCraft (NL) – Circular Chemicals from Food Waste
- Amir Oranim, TripleW (IL) – Highly Pure Lactic Acid and Lactate Salts Produced by Fermentation of Food Waste
- Eric Appelman, Aduro Clean Technologies (CA) – Upcycling Waste Plastic into 21st-Century Resources
- Jasper Munier, Clariter (LU) – Green Sustainable Chemicals Upcycled from Plastic Waste
- Katrin Eckhardt, Amynova (DE) – Innovative, Starch-based Polymers
- Willem-Jan Meijer, Dab.Bio (NL) – Providing Fermentation Process Solutions
- Florian Hildebrand, Greenlyte Carbon Technologies (DE) – A highly Effective DAC Process that Generates CO2 and H2 at Once
- Rob Marrow, Econic (UK) – Transformation of CO2 Into High-performance Materials
A huge thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to the vibrant energy of the event. The format went very well, positive feedback from participants and start-ups. If you are interested in the presentations, please contact [email protected].
4) Bio360, 5-6 February 2025, in Nantes, France
Bio360 is the global crossroads for advancing the Biotransition. Bio360 comprises a two day-exhibition dedicated to bioenergy and the bioeconomy, 400+ international exhibitors and 5000 professional participants, a rich program of international conferences across 7 conference rooms and study tours the innovation competition.
Building on its international outlook and scope, central to Bio360’s mission is to scan the horizon far and wide to identify and bring together leading international practitioners, entrepreneurs, scientists, decision makers and public bodies who are embracing and committed to the biotransition.
As an event, Bio360 continues to cement its position as the international meeting hub for those engaged in making the Biotransition a reality and pushes beyond the “single discipline” approach to actively exploring and highlighting the opportunities for sectoral cross-over between bioenergy in its solid, liquid and gaseous forms, CCU and CCS, biochar and the inter-related possibilities of biobased materials. Inherent to this outlook is the achievement of a truly circular economy whereby previously termed “waste” or by-products from one process cascade on to becoming a valuable resource for another. Many examples of this are in evidence on the stands or in the conferences: CO₂ from biogas upgrading for injection into recycled concrete or for microalgae growth, “waste” effluents for hydrothermal gasification (providing biomethane and also valuable phosphorous for agriculture) or for biohydrogen production or biochar production, biomass for displacing fossil fuels for industry, non-recyclable wastes for gasification and production of advanced liquid fuels, to name but a few.
Take a closer look at Bio360 - the event dedicated to accelerating the biotransition, by revisiting www.bio360expo.com
5) RCI Ambassador Activities:
Platform meeting on the future of Green Chemistry
On November 11, 2024, RCI participated in the event of the platform “Grüne Chemie – Zukunft” at the Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology. Topics from the areas of regulation, economy, research, and education were discussed, complemented by interactive sessions and pitch presentations on projects from Green Chemistry. A focus topic was the defossilisation of the chemical industry, to which Christopher vom Berg contributed a presentation and participated in a panel discussion.
Circular Carbon Economy Summit, Vienna
On November 12th, Michael Carus presented Renewable Carbon - Concept, Strategy and Initiative to a highly interested audience, the who-is-who of the Austrian circular economy. RCI member UPM, Dominik Müller presented the biorefinery in Leuna (Germany). Later, Michael led a workshop on barriers to CCU and how to overcome them.
6) New Members
Fortum (FI): Fortum Recycling & Waste, a leading circular solutions and waste management company, is rethinking recycling and leading the way towards revolution of materials. Fortum’s mission is to transform waste streams back into essential raw materials and to find solutions for our customers’ environmental and waste challenges to enable circularity of materials.
Evoco (CA): Evoco is a global innovation company founded to defossilise the material value chain. We are developing a plant-based technology platform of scalable chemistry and material technologies to help our industry partners detoxify and decarbonize high-performance consumer and industrial products.
Modern Meadow (US): Modern Meadow is a biotechnology company pioneering biofabrication techniques to develop sustainable materials, primarily through engineered proteins and other bio-based innovations, as alternatives to leather and traditional textiles.
Source: Renewable Carbon Initiative, original text, 2024-11-29.