Search

Zero Emissions

ZEM is the most ambitious route to achieving industrial climate neutrality. In this scenario, total energy demand rises to 172 TWh by 2050. The increase is primarily driven by the manufacture of raw materials for the chemical industry, such as naphtha, which are currently imported. Other contributing factors are the increased use of hydrogen-based production routes in the iron and steel as well as the chemical and petrochemical industries. Excluding losses from hydrogen electrolysis, the ZEM energy requirements of 153 TWh per year by 2050 are roughly the same as those for the pathway of industry (POI).

Total energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions of Austrian industry in the ZEM scenario.

Results

The ZEM scenario is a normative pathway which adopts wide-ranging and ambitious measures to achieve a completely climate-neutral Austrian industrial energy system by 2050.

  • Total energy demand increases to 172 TWh by 2050, similar to POI.
  • The increase is primarily the result of manufacturing raw materials for the chemical industry, such as naphtha, which are currently imported.

Changes in comparison to the POI scenario:

  • Greater use of hydrogen-based production routes in the iron and steel as well as the chemical and petrochemical industries.
  • Greenhouse gas emissions drop to 0 in 2050.