# German chemical industry defossilization efforts

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/german-chemical-industry-defossilization-efforts
> Updated: 2026-08-16T04:13:28.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 3.

The German chemical and plastics industries are exploring pathways to transition away from fossil-based raw materials toward renewable alternatives.

A study by the DEHEMA Society for Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, commissioned by the IREES institute, identified several feedstock categories to replace natural gas and naphtha. These include captured CO2, biogenic resources from biogas and waste, and recovered plastics. The study highlighted processes such as power-to-X, biomass gasification, and thermochemical plastic recycling to convert these sources into industrial chemicals.

Following this analysis, several industrial conferences have been scheduled to address the technological and regulatory requirements of this transition. The International Symposium on Feedstock Recycling of Polymeric Materials will focus on chemical recycling to close the loop on plastic waste, while the Renewable Materials Conference will examine the economic and political frameworks, such as certification systems and market instruments, necessary for the widespread adoption of renewable carbon.

Recent technological developments have emerged to support these decarbonization goals. At the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology, the LowCarbDry project is testing the replacement of traditional hot-air drying with superheated steam. In collaboration with Evonik Operations GmbH and the Pergande Group, this method aims to reduce energy consumption by a factor of 2 to 4 and eliminate natural gas requirements in the chemical, cement, and paper sectors.

Additionally, researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have developed the PEReCO2 process. This method, which received the NEULAND Innovation Prize 2026, uses renewable electricity and copper-based materials to convert carbon dioxide into chemical raw materials like acetate, providing a scalable alternative to petroleum-based feedstocks.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-16: German researchers develop technologies for industrial decarbonization

German researchers are advancing industrial decarbonization through superheated steam drying and new methods to convert CO2 into chemical raw materials using renewable energy.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/german-researchers-develop-technologies-for-industrial-decarbonization

### 2026-08-10: German conferences to address chemical industry defossilization

Two major 2026 conferences in Germany will address the defossilization of the chemical industry through renewable carbon, biomass, and advanced chemical recycling technologies.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/german-conferences-to-address-chemical-industry-defossilization

### 2026-07-21: German chemical industry study proposes fossil‑free feedstocks

A DEHEMA‑IREES study maps carbon‑neutral feedstock routes—CO₂ capture, biogenic waste, and plastic recycling—for Germany’s chemical industry, recommending research and pilots to replace gas and naphtha.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/german-chemical-industry-study-proposes-fossilfree-feedstocks

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Cite as: German chemical industry defossilization efforts. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/german-chemical-industry-defossilization-efforts