Take a journey through Europe鈥檚 low-carbon industrial projects
The EU chemical industry is at the heart of Europe鈥檚 economy, and leading the transition towards a competitive, resilient, and sustainable future in Europe. Despite current challenges, industry leaders remain committed to the EU Green Deal, continuously investing in innovative technologies to drive this transformation.
About the low-carbon technology map
爱游戏中国官方网站鈥檚 鈥楲ow-Carbon Technologies Projects Map鈥� tracks publicly announced industrial initiatives from across its membership. This interactive map showcases 200+ innovative projects from around 20 countries – from biochemicals and carbon capture to digitalisation and recycling – sharing innovations that are helping drive the transition to a climate neutral and circular future in Europe while supporting quality jobs for European workers.
The European chemical sector employs over 1 million people and is the second-largest chemicals producer in the world. Our industry also acts as the 鈥渋ndustry of industries鈥�, supplying essential components to power the green and digital transitions, like wind turbines, batteries, microchips, and advanced medical devices.
The EU chemical industry is at the heart of Europe鈥檚 economy, and leading the transition towards a competitive, resilient, and sustainable future in Europe. Despite current challenges, industry leaders remain committed to the EU Green Deal, continuously investing in innovative technologies to drive this transformation.
The investment challenge: a call for action
The scale of this transformation is unprecedented. The Chemical Industry Transition Pathway, released by the European Commission in 2023, emphasises the huge investments needed. Estimates from (P4P) under Horizon Europe which indicate that 鈧�218-238 billion is needed for early-stage commercial deployment and trillions more to scale up these innovations across Europe.
To accelerate this transformation, a supportive, long-term policy framework in Europe is essential, to drive innovation, attract investments and maintain industrial competitiveness.
Discover the map – take a journey through Europe鈥檚 low-carbon future
Map disclaimers & updates
Our 鈥淟ow-carbon technologies projects map鈥� is a living document. It is updated twice a year with the support and contribution of 爱游戏中国官方网站 members. This map is based on publicly announced industrial projects. Any questions on a specific project should be directed to the companies involved. The map is not an exhaustive list and does not feature every single initiative and project planned, started and/or executed by the chemical sector. The latest update was implemented in December 2024. The next update is scheduled for Q2 2025. If you would like to contribute and add your projects to the map, please get in touch with Florie Gonsolin (fgo@cefic.be).
Technologies in focus
Biochemicals
Biomass-derived chemicals are defined as chemical products that are wholly or partly derived from materials of biological origin (e.g. plants, algae, crops, trees, marine organisms and biological waste). Check out 爱游戏中国官方网站鈥檚 sector group to learn more on biochemicals and current standards.
Carbon Capture and Storage
Carbon Capture Storage (CCS) involves the capture, transport and permanent storage of CO2. Our views on this technology are described here.
Carbon Capture and Utilisation
Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) is a process in which CO2 is captured and then used to produce a new product (source: IPCC). For example, it can be used to produce feedstock for chemicals and polymers. You can read more here.
Digitalisation
Deployment of digital technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and robotics, contributing to the reduction of GHG emissions.
E-cracker and electrification
E-crackers refer to electrically heated steam crackers. Steam crackers are at the beginning of many value chains as they are used to 鈥渃rack鈥� long hydrocarbon chains into shorter ones, then used to produce basic chemicals. Electrically heated steam cracker furnaces could potentially bring a significant reduction of CO2. Nevertheless, e-cracker related technologies are still in development, and industrial scale projects are expected to be announced in the coming months/years.
Efficiency
This category covers a broad array of technologies and activities that make processes smoother, faster, less energy and/or resources intensive and, generally, more efficient. The chemical sector aims to maintain high levels of resource and energy efficiency. Read more on resource efficiency here.
Feedstock substitution
Sourcing and/or utilisation of alternative feedstock (i.e. bio-based raw materials and CO2) to be used in as material sources in chemical processes.
Hydrogen
The chemical sector is already a major consumer and producer of hydrogen and high purity hydrogen can be used during chemical processes both as a feedstock and as an energy carrier. This category covers both projects aiming to produce hydrogen, and projects that foresee the use of low emission hydrogen as feedstock to produce other chemicals. Read more here.
Chemical recycling (plastic)
Feedstock recycling, also known as chemical recycling, is a process where the chemical structure of a polymer is changed and converted into chemical building blocks, including monomers, that are then used again as a secondary raw material in chemical processes. Read more on chemical recycling here.
Mechanical recycling (plastic)
Mechanical recycling refers to the processing of plastics waste into secondary raw material or products without significantly changing the material鈥檚 chemical structure (Source: ).
Other recycling activities
activities, processes and installations aiming to recycle chemicals other than plastics.
Renewable and low-carbon electricity and PPAs
With 165 TWh of electricity consumption in 2021, the chemical sector is the largest industrial electricity consumer in the EU. And with further electrification of processes planned, the need for electricity is expected to grow. This category features projects covering installation/acquisition of renewable and low carbon energy sources and/or signature of new Power Purchasing Agreements (PPA). PPAs are private agreements between producer and consumer of electricity.
Waste/biomass to energy
Waste-to-energy scheme means incineration of waste with recovery of generated energy. Biomass to energy refers to biomass used in the production of energy. This category covers also the use of waste and biomass to produce biofuels.