Röhm launches a feasibility study on decarbonization

Reducing carbon emissions is the key to limiting global warming. Fossil fuels such as oil or coal have been used for decades to generate energy, but they are the main source of releasing carbon (CO₂). Mitigating global warming requires strong action at all levels, but most importantly, a switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy. This task can only be approached on a global scale - and industrial companies must contribute their efforts.

In light of the load limit of our planet earth, we at Röhm are taking responsibility. We have contracted a feasibility study on the decarbonization of our production facilities to achieve our goals of reducing the ecological footprint of our products and services as well as producing in a climate-neutral manner by 2050. With our partner Aker Carbon Capture, we want to cut the CO₂ emissions by using the carbon capturing technology. This technology is an effective solution to reduce the so-called direct emissions from flue gases of our processes into the atmosphere by more than 90 percent. Röhm's CO₂ reduction target includes all major methyl methacrylate production sites in the USA, Europe and Asia with a total potential of around 500,000 tons of CO₂ per year. As a first step, the feasibility study will focus on production facilities at the German sites in Wesseling and Worms.

Steffen Krill, head of the sustainability team, explains what this means in practice: “Carbon capture technology opens up several options for Röhm: One way to achieve this is through the transport and storage of the extracted CO₂ in empty gas fields – so-called Carbon Capture & Storage – but also through the use of the captured CO₂ and its utilization as a raw material for the production of methyl methacrylate. For example, CO₂ can be used to produce methanol or acetone, thus contributing to the shift to a circular economy.” The first demonstration plants are currently operated using this scheme for the manufacture of renewable fuels such as methanol e.g. in Chile.

If funding is approved, it would be the first time in history that CCS technology is used in a chemical process for the production of methacrylates, strengthening our approach to be traditionally innovative in terms of products, technologies and of course sustainability.

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