In 2018, GHG emissions from the chemical sector represented 20.1 Mt CO2e, i.e. 25% of the industry's emissions (79.5 Mt CO2e) and 90% of the chemical-materials sector's emissions. The chemical sector is thus one of the three highest emitters in industry, along with metallurgy (19.3 Mt CO2e) and building materials (18.4 Mt CO2e).
The chemical industry reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 63% between 1990 and 2018, even as the sector's added value increased by 26%, thanks in particular to a reduction in N2O emissions, linked to the production of adipic and nitric acids, and to improvements in the energy efficiency of its energy production and processes.
In November 2022, the French President asked the 50 industrial sites with the highest CO2 emissions, which account for almost 55% of industrial emissions, to establish decarbonization trajectories, drawing on a range of solutions: conversion of gas boilers to biomass boilers, electrification of industrial processes, energy efficiency, hydrogen, CO2 capture and storage (CCS).
In exchange for these ambitious decarbonization trajectories, the French government is committed to providing financial support to industry. This should enable it to plan the deployment of decarbonization technologies, and for companies to reduce risks. The State's commitment enables it to provide financial support for projects, if they are ambitious enough, and to develop infrastructures and produce the necessary decarbonized energies (low-carbon electricity, hydrogen, biomass, etc.). On this basis, "ecological transition contracts" will be signed between the manufacturers with the highest emissions and the French government.
The cumulative decarbonization trajectory of the 50 sites would thus reach -45% by 2030.
The main levers for decarbonizing industry are :
In 2030: electrification (approx. 1/3) CCS (approx. 1/3), energy efficiency and heat, process change, hydrogen and biomass
In 2050: CCS (approx. 1/3), process electrification (approx. 1/3), hydrogen and biogas, process change, energy efficiency and heat.
In addition to the 50 emitters, the strategic sector committees (CSF) with the highest emissions have submitted their decarbonization roadmaps. For example, the chemical industry has set itself the target of reducing GHG emissions by 49% between 2015 and 2030, and by 84% by 2050 in an ambitious scenario, by mobilizing all available levers, notably electrification, biomass, CCS and low-carbon hydrogen.
(Source Le Monde de l'Énergie)