| dc.description.abstract | Achieving the climate goals stipulated in the Dutch Climate Agreement requires a collective effort from all sectors, particularly the Dutch industry – a major emissions contributor. This study proposes the most appropriate decarbonisation options in achieving (near) net-zero scope 1 and 2 emissions for a major chemical company – LyondellBasell. Specifically, its production sites in Botlek and Maasvlakte. The Marginal Abatement Cost (MAC) curve analysis is utilised as the main analysis method to assess the cost-effectiveness and the abatement potential of seven decarbonisation options. This is complemented with a qualitative discussion on the relevant non-economic factors. Together, providing a comprehensive view of both the cost-effectiveness and the implementation feasibility.
The two production sites, which together has a total of 7 main chemical processes, allow optimised product flows and cascaded steam usage across processes and units, and are integrated with external utility companies – resulted in a considerable amount of scope 2 emissions. This research found that 88% of the total scope 1 and 2 emissions is attributable to its steam consumption of around 8 PJ/year. This translates into annual carbon emissions of 416 kton and 620 kton, for the Maasvlakte and Botlek site, respectively. These present deep decarbonisation opportunities for both scope 1 and 2 emissions, through the decarbonisation of high-temperature steam supply.
The MAC curves concluded that the Post-Combustion Carbon Capture Storage (CCS) options are the most cost-effective. The Complete Post-Combustion CCS configuration has a MAC (considering carbon price) of -33.6 €2018/tCO2 for the Maasvlakte site (79% carbon reduction) and 16.4 €2018/tCO2 for the Botlek site (85% carbon reduction). Followed closely are the hydrogen combustion options with blue or green hydrogen (H2) and the biomass boiler option. Electricity-dependent technologies are disfavoured due to their high MACs, as the electricity price is projected to increase highly over the analysis period. Nonetheless, the supply scarcity of green H2 and controversial sustainability issues around biomass supply are likely to hinder the implementation of those options. Coupling with energy transition initiatives put forward for the Port of Rotterdam industrial cluster (i.e. PORTHOS and H-Vision), this research concludes that the Post-Combustion CCS and the hydrogen combustion option with blue H2 are the most appropriate options for deep decarbonisation, in terms of both cost-effectiveness and implementation feasibility. | |
