Strategic documents
Critical Raw Materials for the Energy Transition
Recent research shows the growing tensions in the supply-chain of raw materials for energy technologies despite the highly important role these will play in the success of Europe’s twin green and digital transitions in 2030 and 2050. The European Commission’s recently proposed Critical Raw Materials Act, created to safeguard the EU’s access to strategic and critical raw materials, was based on similar insights. The European minerals and metal sector faces huge challenges when it comes to critical raw materials supply and these must be met with decisive actions and widespread cross-sectorial innovations. Check out the SWOT analysis and Quickscan on Critical Raw Materials that were made on our request.
CRM SWOT analysis – TNO
CRM Quickscan – MSG
MaterialenNL: Strategic Autonomy
The national knowledge agenda strategic autonomy for raw materials is an initiative of Top Sector ChemistryNL and the MaterialenNL Platform, within which the top sectors ChemistryNL, Holland High Tech and Energy work together. The reason for this agenda is that industry and politics no longer see the seemingly unlimited supply of materials as a given. The energy transition requires large quantities of mineral raw materials for use in batteries and solar cells, among other things and electrolysers. Such as lithium, cobalt and rare earth metals. The Netherlands depends on this of supply chains that are often in foreign (non-European) hands. Society and economy must prepare for a new reality when it comes to use materials, manage risks and develop promising solutions. This new reality raises many knowledge questions among companies, citizens, the government and the science. Such questions come together in this knowledge agenda.
Another goal of this knowledge agenda is the sense of urgency about the raw materials transition and the scarcity of critical metals. This raw materials transition is just as important as the energy transition, but has so far received much less attention. In addition, the raw materials transition is necessary to complete the energy transition.
This agenda comes at a time when politicians and businesses are embracing the raw materials transition more urgent than ever before. The European Commission has a European Raw Materials Act (Critical Raw Materials Act, CRMA) announced, among other things to dependence on countries such as China and Russia. The Netherlands has the same goal its Raw Materials Strategy will be published in the autumn of 2022. It’s time from this point of view too for the development of this knowledge agenda and a programmatic approach based on it of the raw material transition. Download the knowledge agenda strategic autonomy for raw materials here (in Dutch).
Chemical Recycling in circular perspective
How can we prevent waste, and how can we extract more value out of this inevitable waste? This brochure provides insights and best practices on chemical recycling, a technology that transforms plastic waste and organic residues into base chemicals and feedstocks. It’s a collaborative effort involving public and private entities. The goal is to promote international cooperation and partnerships among government, knowledge institutions, and businesses to advance chemical recycling and move towards a circular and climate-neutral economy.
This publication is the result of a collaboration between Holland Circular Hotspot, the Network Chemical Recycling of the Circular Biobased Delta, The Netherlands Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, Chemport Europe, Chemelot Circular Hub, ChemistryNL, TNO and Infinity Recycling. In this brochure we will present you with a nuanced view on the contribution of chemical recycling to a climate neutral chemical industry. This brochure aims to showcase the current state, needed and possible developments in a fact-based and objective manner to stimulate debate. We approach chemical recycling from economical, environmental, innovation and financing perspectives and place it in the context of a fully circular economy strategy. Multiple Dutch cases, toolboxes and approaches will illustrate how chemical recycling can be put into practice. The last chapter shows a pathway and action agenda. What can regulators do, how can entrepreneurs collaborate towards sensible chemical recycling models, how can the financial sector kick-start development, and how can knowledge institutes support and strengthen the developments? We conclude with a number of future visions on the market. Download the brochure here.
Smart Chemical Industry
In 2018, the Top Sector Chemistry commissioned a quick scan into the (PPP) possibilities of the digital revolution within the chemical industry. Download here the Quickscan Smart Chemical Industry of KplusV.
ClimatePITCH
In 2019 ChemistryNL, together with the business community and knowledge institutions, has made an analysis of the innovation portfolio of the top sector chemistry; the “Climate-PITCH”.
Download the Climate-PITCH
Download the Climate-PITCH infographic
Brightsite Transition Outlook 2022
Brightsite’s first Transition Outlook (BTO), the document that shows how and when the climate goals at Chemelot can be achieved and what is needed to achieve this. A future-proof Chemelot requires joint, sustainable innovation with processes that meet the needs of the site as a whole and are in line with future developments in the Netherlands.
Download the Brightsite Transition Outlook 2022
Download the Brightsite Transition Outlook 2022 – ‘onderbouwing’
Download the Brightsite Transition Outlook 2022 – Infograph