Decarbon Technologies
Decarbon Technologies
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- Decarbonization of Industries
- Research center Carbon2Chem
Research center thyssenkrupp Carbon2Chem®
The industrial sector is one of the largest CO2 emitters in the world. The production of steel at thyssenkrupp alone generates around 2.5 percent of Germany's CO2 emissions. Global cement production is responsible for around eight percent of CO2 emissions worldwide. But what if instead of simply blowing the process gases from these production processes into the air, they could be converted into valuable chemicals? This is the vision of the Carbon2Chem® project, which has been working on innovative solutions for a climate-neutral industry since 2016.
More than 20 partners from science and industry are involved in the overall Carbon2Chem® project. It is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. thyssenkrupp Carbon2Chem plays a key role in organizing the exchange between the partners involved, such as various thyssenkrupp companies and research institutes like the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft UMSICHT.
The project is divided into several funding phases, each lasting several years. In the first phase, the focus was on developing and researching suitable processes and key technologies as well as setting up a test center in Duisburg. In the second phase, long-term trials were to be implemented and the technologies were to be scaled up and integrated on an industrial scale. The project is currently in preparation for the third phase.
The project phases of Carbon2Chem®
Development and research of suitable processes
Development and research of suitable processes
The first phase of the Carbon2Chem® project focused on demonstrating the feasibility and efficiency of technologies for utilizing CO2. To this end, a research center was set up in Duisburg, which is connected to a thyssenkrupp furnace system. The research center has various facilities for purifying process gases, water electrolysis, producing and refining synthesis gas.
In several experiments, the project partners were able to show that the various process steps can be coupled successfully and that the chemicals produced meet quality standards. The first phase of the Carbon2Chem® project ran from 2016 to 2020 and was funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research with around 60 million euros. The results of this phase provide the basis for the further development and scaling of the technologies in the second phase.
Long-term testing, validation and scaling for industrial use
Long-term testing, validation and scaling for industrial use
In the second phase of the Carbon2Chem® project, launched in 2020, the aim was to transfer the technology for CO2 utilization to an industrial scale. Among other things, a demonstration plant was built for a HeidelbergCement cement plant in Hanover, which uses the process gas from the kiln as a source of raw materials. The demonstration plant was to show that the technology also works under real conditions and is economically viable.
The second phase of the Carbon2Chem® project was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research with around 84 million euros. The aim of this phase was to make the technology ready for the market and create the conditions for broad application in the steel, cement and chemical industries.
Large-scale implementation of results
Large-scale implementation of results
In early 2025, the third phase of the Carbon2Chem® project commenced, following the approval of €50 million in funding by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). This phase focuses on the industrial implementation of prior findings to apply and further optimize CO₂ utilization technology across various industrial sectors.
The third phase of the project aims to address the changing conditions by verifying solutions in practical applications. This will include application-based verification of the solutions developed during the work, the adaptation of gases used in direct reduction in the steel sector and the comprehensive study of methanol and hydrogen – both during production and storage. A new generation of electrolyzers will be developed. Production will be expanded as well: Value chains will be lengthened in the direction of sustainable aviation fuels.
For this third phase, the project has secured esteemed partners: BASF, EY Consulting GmbH, FernUniversität in Hagen, and the University of Duisburg-Essen have joined the consortium. These collaborations enhance the project and promote the development of innovative solutions for a sustainable industry.
Sustainable aviation fuel from thyssenkrupp Uhde
Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) are alternative fuels for aircrafts that can be produced from process gases, for example. thyssenkrupp Uhde is building a pilot plant for the production of sustainable aviation fuels from production process gases as part of the Carbon2Chem® project.
Capturing CO2 during cement production at thyssenkrupp Polysius
The innovative polysius® pure oxyfuel process from thyssenkrupp Polysius allows CO2 to be captured during the emission-intensive cement production process. The Carbon2Chem® project combines capturing CO2 during cement production with the production of chemicals and creates an innovative value chain.
Water electrolysis by thyssenkrupp nucera
thyssenkrupp nucera produces green hydrogen from renewable electricity through water electrolysis. The hydrogen is able to react with CO2 to form synthesis gas or can be used in other ways. As part of the Carbon2Chem® project, thyssenkrupp nucera is demonstrating how electrolysis can make the industrial sector greener.
Our projects around storing, capturing and utilizing CO2