Catalysts and adsorbents in the energy transition Catalysts and adsorbents play a crucial role in the energy transition, from the development of biofuels and the circular economy to green hydrogen production
Dr Meritxell Vila MERYT Catalysts & Innovation
E nergy transition means the shift from energy sources (oil, natural gas and coal), to energy systems based on renewable energy sources. Catalysts and adsorbents, used in around 90% of current industrial production processes, are therefore key players in the energy transition. They will be responsible for new processes, or must be improved or modified for current processes. Catalysts by themselves are essential in the energy management of chemical reactions. Thanks to them, we can perform reactions under lower temperature and pressure and in a current energy production systems, which are based mainly on non-renewable
reasonable time. In this sense, catalysts are the main energy savers of the industry. Therefore, their role in the energy transition is crucial, as we will see in this article. Together with the energy transition, there is a change in fuel demand compared with chemical derivatives. Environmental protection legislation and the increase in consumption of chemicals from developing countries could set the stage for a future world with lower demand for transportation fuels and higher demand for petrochemical feedstocks. 1 This demand is also favoured due to the higher margin of petrochemical products. As a consequence, refineries are switching to biofuels and crude oil to chemicals (COTC).
New COTC complex COTC retro t in existing re nery
Full biofuels conversion Biofuels coprocessing
Figure 1 Current and announced refinery conversions to biofuels and crude oil to chemical refineries
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