Solar-Driven Chemistry - A Vision for Sustainable Chemistry Production
Introduction
Modern life is sustained by an unremitting stream of energy that is delivered to final users as fuels, electricity, and heat. Currently, over 80% of the world’s primary energy supply is provided by fossil fuels carbon sources (coal, oil, gas). For the last two centuries fossil fuels, generated from biomass over millions of years, have been extensively used in anthropic activities. When we burn fossil fuels, we liberate the solar energy stored millions of years earlier in chemical bonds, but we are also generating CO2 as waste. Over the last few decades it has become clear that the CO2 that is released in this way is affecting the climate stability of the biosphere. Therefore there is a need for an energy transition from fossil fuels to nonfossil-based energies. This transition has already started and must be completed during the present century. The sun gives us an opportunity to complete this energy revolution as it delivers the same energy to the Earth in about one hour as we currently use from fossil fuels, nuclear power and all renewable energy sources combined in a year. Yet, sunlight is a dilute form of energy. It needs to be converted into other forms of energy in order to be used in a profitable way, such as heat, electricity, or fuels.
Nature stores solar energy in carbon-based chemical compounds that mankind has long used as an energy source. In plants, algae and some types of bacteria, solar-driven systems are capable of converting carbon dioxide and water into C,H,O-containing compounds. Photosynthesis is a way to capture solar energy and store it in the form of chemical bonds. The compounds thus produced can be used as fuels, but also (bio-)materials or chemical feedstock. Developing artificial systems on an industrial scale that generate such compounds from the same sources (i.e. solar radiation, water, CO2) is a great challenge. Ideally, such man-made, ecologically friendly energy systems should be more efficient than their natural counterparts, to keep pace with our consumption while making our energy utilization sustainable.
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The document is based on the presentations at a brainstorming workshop on “Solar-driven Chemistry” on October 9, 201 5 in Berlin, organized by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, represented by Georg Bechtold) and the European Association of Chemical and Molecular Sciences (EuCheMS, represented by Ulrich Schubert, TU Wien). Participating experts were Nicola Armaroli (CNR Bologna), Vincent Artero (Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS and CEA), Gabriele Centi (University of Messina), Angela Dibenedetto (University of Bari), Leif Hammarström (University of Uppsala), Guido Mul (University of Twente), Christopher Pickett (University of East Anglia), Sven Rau (University of Ulm) and Joost N. H. Reek (University of Amsterdam). The first version of this document was written by Ina Helms. EuCheMS gratefully acknowledges financial and organizational support by DFG.
The White Paper was Published by EuCheMS
Nineta Hrastelj Majcen (EuCheMS General Secretary) Bruno Vilela (EuCheMS Public Affairs Officer)
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ISBN 978-2-9601 655-2-4
EuCheMS
September 2016
Call for nominations: European Sustainable Chemistry Award 2014
In 2010, the European Association for Chemical and Molecular Sciences (EuCheMS) has launched the European Sustainable Chemistry Award (ESCA). This has been encouraged by the European Environment Agency (EEA) and supported by the European Platform for Sustainable Chemistry (SusChem) and the European Chemical Industry Association (CEFIC).
Deadline for nominations of the 2014 award is March 31. 2014.
Forms and more information are available on the EuCheMS website.
Rationale
The European Sustainable Chemistry Award is designed to:
- recognise individuals or small research groups which make an outstanding contribution to sustainable development by applying green and sustainable chemistry;
- promote innovation in chemistry and chemicals that will deliver clear improvements in the sustainable production and use of chemicals and chemical products;
- demonstrate that chemistry and chemicals can play a central role in delivering society's needs, while minimizing and solving environmental problems.
Successful national green and sustainable chemistry award schemes have been in place for some years in several European countries and outside Europe and a recent study by the Economist Intelligence Unit points to the value of awards as demand side solutions as a key element in pushing the EU further up the global innovation rankings. The European Sustainable Chemistry Award is intended to be a prestigious scheme which will raise the profile of sustainable chemistry and be a spur to innovation and competitiveness.
Scientific focus
The Award covers innovations in the following scientific areas:
- the use of alternative synthetic pathways, that increase resource efficiency and selectivity e.g. with the help of catalysis or natural processes;
- the use of alternative feedstocks which are safer and/or renewable e.g. based on biomass;
- the use of alternative reactor design and reaction conditions, such as use of solvents which deliver health and environmental benefits, or increased yield and reduced waste and emissions;
- the design and use of chemicals and chemical products that are, for example, less environmentally harmful than current alternatives, or inherently safer with regard to hazardous concerns.
Eligibility
The Award is open to individuals or teams of up to three persons. EuCheMS member societies, EuCheMS Divisions/Working Parties/EYCN and individuals (no self-nominations) are invited to submit nominations. The work cited in the nomination must have been carried out in an institution in a country where there is a EuCheMS member society.
An independent Evaluation Panel will be appointed to consider the nominations. A Steering Committee is overseeing the development of the nominations procedure.
David Spichiger, SCS
24.01.2014
1st European Conference and Exhibition on Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering
ecochem
International Conference & Exhibition on Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering
Congress Center Basel, 19 –21 November 2013
The business case for sustainability continues to grow – the Green Chemistry market is expected to increase by nearly $100 billion between 2011 and 2020.
Leaders from the world’s elite brands and chemical companies including Dow, BASF, Clariant, Evonik, DuPont, INEOS, Nestle, Nike, Volkswagen, P&G, Coca-Cola, Novartis and L’Oreal as well as heads of government, academics, financiers, scientists, innovators and young future leaders are meeting in Basel on 19-21 November at Europe’s first Exhibition and Conference on Green and Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering. The meeting has the aim to accelerate innovation, research, commercialisation and market uptake in the design, production and use of efficient, effective, safe and more environmentally benign chemical products and processes.
Ecochem includes 3 days of 8 streams, 200+speakers, over 50 exhibitors and 1200 delegates. The focus will be on collaborative approaches and new solutions designed to inspire and equip the leaders of tomorrow with the critical strategic and technical knowledge, contacts and skills needed to reinvent businesses and economies.
Ecochem will host talks from world-renowned chemists as well as industry leaders from across the value chain, including:
- Dr. John C. Warner President & Chief Technology Officer, Warner Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry, LLC
- Dr. Hubert Mandery Director General, Cefic European Chemical Industry Council
- Prof. Dr. Andreas Kuenkel Head of Research, BioPolymers, BASF
- Dr. Anne Wallin Director EHS & Sustainability EMEA, The DOW Chemical Company
- John Frazier Senior Director of Chemical Innovation, Nike
- Dr. Klaus P. Stadler Director Environment & Water Resources Europe, The Coca-Cola Company
Ecochem is delighted to be hosting the launch of SusChem Switzerland National Technology Platform on 19 November. SusChem addresses challenges specific to the European chemical and industrial biotechnology industry for the benefit of society as a whole. The introduction of the SusChem Switzerland National Platform will include a full day session from SusChem at Ecochem.
Ecochem is supported by The European Chemical Industry Council, European Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry, Swiss Biotech, scienceindustries Switzerland, CLIB2021, Cleantech-Alps, Cleantech Switzerland, Swiss Chemical Society and Your Formula (network for young chemists).
For your FREE registration to the Ecochem Exhibition, Technical Conference and Innovation Seminars, One-to-one Partnering and Networking Events please visit www.ecochemex.com and complete your free registration. Please download our event brochure atwww.ecochemex.com/download-event-brochure and discover who will be attending Ecochem.
David Spichiger, SCS
15.11.2013
International Call for Proposals in Sustainable Chemistry
IUPAC and participating national funding agencies are pleased to issue an international call for proposals on “Novel Molecular and Supramolecular Theory and Synthesis Approaches for Sustainable Catalysis”.
This call is intended to foster multi-national cooperation in sustainable chemistry.
More information:
IUPAC Webpage
David Spichiger, SCS
21.12.2012
Call for «The European Sustainable Chemistry Award»
The European Sustainable Chemistry Award is intended to be a prestigious scheme which will raise the profile of sustainable chemistry and be a spur to innovation and competitiveness. Deadline for nominations is March 1, 2012.Read more: Call for «The European Sustainable Chemistry Award»
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