Brightsite brings climate proof chemistry within reach

In order to limit greenhouse gas emissions and slow down global warming, the Dutch government has set climate targets. By 2030, CO₂ emissions in industry must be reduced by at least 59 percent compared to 1990. In 2050 this figure will even be 95 percent.

Brightlands Chemelot Campus, Sitech Services, Maastricht University and TNO decided to join forces in the Brightsite partnership in order to actually make the transition to a climate-neutral, circular economy at the Chemelot site in Geleen and at the same time serve as an example for the Netherlands and beyond.

Activities at Chemelot offer a great foundation

The transition from the use of fossil fuels and raw materials to renewable energy and materials, which is necessary to achieve the climate targets, requires a major investment from the industry. But if this necessary transition can be harnessed by translating it into a pioneering role in innovation, it can also lead to innovation and growth in business and attract talent.

The large-scale business happening on the Chemelot industrial site and the activities of Brightlands Chemelot Campus that are growing there, offer a tremendous foundation on which to push forward. It makes Chemelot a unique site in Europe, a place where support for new initiatives for the development, demonstration and upscaling of innovative processes and experience with existing high-volume production come together.

Six programmes bring together sustainability and an integrated approach

Brightsite will make the necessary innovations possible by developing and applying new technology. Safety aspects, social acceptance and legal and commercial feasibility will also be taken into account from the outset. The partners will do this jointly in six programmes, where sustainability and an integrated approach come together.

• Electrification: the program focus lies on the production of building blocks for chemistry, such as hydrogen and ethylene, through the use of sustainable electricity.
• Recycling: this program is oriented at reusing plastics and other waste materials as source of carbon and hydrogen.
• Process innovation: this programme focuses on reducing emissions with improved and new processes.
• Safety and Acceptance: this programme aims to ensure safe and socially accepted innovation.
• System Integration here the partner are working towards model based scenarios to ensure a safe, sustainable and economically viable transition for Chemelot, in order to be able to meet the climate objectives in time.
• Human Capital: this programme concerns the training of the new generation of researchers and employees for the investigation, development and application of sustainable circular technology.

Achieving the climate targets creates new technologies, markets and jobs

The Brightsite partners are convinced that the climate targets of 2030 and 2050 can be achieved on the basis of available and newly developed techniques, and that this creates opportunities for new business. Moreover, this development offers opportunities for a new generation of researchers, developers and operators who will put the innovation into practice.