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Green Process Synth 2015; 4: 257 Editorial Electrification of chemistry – what is the synergy between plasma synthesis and chemical plant modularization? DOI 10.1515/gps-2015-0048 The advances in generating green energy from renewable, non-fossil resources has led to a new kind of energy offer. This is characterized by a fluctuating, volatile provision of energy, demanding both for power savings and flexible solutions of energy uptake. The chemical industry can be part of the latter pathway with its power-to-gas and power-to-chemicals routes, making its contribution to grid stabilization. For 2030, a volatile energy share of 54% is expected in Germany, accounting for 61.1 GW wind and 62.8 GW photovoltaic energies, respectively [Deutsche Energie-Agentur, dena-Netzstudie II, 2010]. About one hundred years ago, some production trials were made based on electrification of chemistry, namely in the field of plasma chemistry. Seemingly these days, there is to be expected a reentry of electrics into chemistry. The city of Eindhoven has the challenging ambition to become energy neutral by 2045. Recently, a collaboration team between the city of Eindhoven, the university, and industry, and a student team won the award “The Energy Challenge”. The winning idea combines an energy saving smart window with energy-harvesting “luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs)”. The smart window reflects heat in summer and allows it to pass through in winter. This is a good example of innovation achieved at the interface between chemistry (material science) and energy for which we see many activities these days. Egbert-Jan Sol, director High-Tech Systems and Materials at TNO ( formerly Philips and Ericsson), coined the term “chemergy” for this. The reason why chemergy will become a major issue, at least in Europe, is the predicted above-mentioned large surplus for electricity and CO2. Then power-to-chemical concepts are one of the solutions to make efficient use of such extra energy according to Sol. Methanol is preferred as it constitutes both a fuel and eminent platform chemical. Sol predicts a technological rush for solar panels similar to the large evolution of transistors made for computer chips. Coming back to the power-to-chemicals concept, there has been a recent forecast given by European roadmaps about the electrification of chemistry. One such study, carrying the same name (in German), is made by Dechema [Dechema, ISBN: 978-3-89746-168-0]. This idea together with several other proposals has recently been consolidated in an action catalogue proposed by the Enquete Commission “Future of Chemical Industry in Nordrhein-Westfalen”. The latter is the state in Germany with the most chemical industry (Bayer, Henkel, Lanxess, Evonik, etc. and several chemparks). The action catalogue proclaims that electrochemical processes will play an essential role, yet also refers to plasma processes. Integration of these into chemparks and power stations may open a new chapter and challenge in chemistry’s Verbund strategy. Beyond that, the distributed chemical manufacture directly at the site of wind and solar parks generation offers another new window of opportunity. As technology enablers, new mobile and compact intensified production platforms in container format provide new means of business models (‘plant on wheels’) with their own distinct cash-flow and depreciation models (modular plant growth, 50% idea). If this is combined with plasma technology, abundantly available, cheap resources such as air (N2, O2) or carbon dioxide (coming mostly from industrial waste streams) could be converted into base chemicals such as ammonia and nitric acid, leading to fertilizers, or methanol/syngas for platform chemicals. The “Industrial Day” of the 22nd International Symposium on Plasma Chemistry (ISPC 22), held at the University of Antwerpen by 05.07.15, provides a large showcase for such new business models and windows of opportunity. It may be worth going there. I will go. Volker Hessel Editor-in-Chief e-mail: [email protected] Unauthenticated Download Date | 6/16/17 7:18 AM