With the aim of advancing to climate neutrality in the German industrial state of Schleswig-Holstein, integrated energy and chemicals company Sasol Germany, alongside other industrial companies from the chemicals, cement and refinery sectors, have joined forces with the state government.

The companies signed an agreement, in May this year, describing the plans and measures of the respective companies to transform industry on the west coast and support the Schleswig-Holstein state government in achieving its targets. This brings Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost of Germany’s 16 federal states, significantly closer to its target of becoming a climate-neutral industrial state.

In addition to the representative of Sasol Germany, signatory parties include representatives of various companies as well as Germany Energy Minister Tobias Goldschmidt. Signatory companies based in the region include polymer materials manufacturer Covestro Deutschland, building materials manufacturer Holcim Germany, chemicals company Linde, oil and natural gas company Raffinerie Heide and chemicals company YARA Brunsbüttel.

Sasol Germany’s Impact
“By signing the agreement, Sasol Germany and the German sites are reaffirming their commitment to sustainability as a key corporate target. We are sending a clear signal that we are committed to achieving the climate neutrality targets,” said Sasol Germany MD Judith Hübner.

The company has a site in Brunsbüttel, Schleswig-Holstein, which employs around 800 people and primarily produces surfactants and specialty chemicals, such as carrier materials for catalysts to produce sustainable aviation fuels.

reducing its greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions, the German Sasol sites are pursuing the group-wide goal of reducing emissions by 30% by 2030, compared to the 2017 baseline, comprising emissions from its own production, which fall under Scope 1 emissions, and from external energy sources, which fall under Scope 2 emissions. Sasol Germany is pursuing concrete roadmaps and striving to achieve its sustainability targets with further projects, says Sasol.

Combined Efforts
The signatory companies contribute substantially to value creation and employment in Schleswig-Holstein, with their production leading to the emission of GHGs, which amounted to about 3.5-million tons of CO2 in 2022 collectively.

Decarbonisation projects that have already been planned, or implemented, alone are expected to reduce emissions by about 1.2-million tons of CO2 a year from 2030 at the latest.

o be able to leverage further emission reduction potential in the future, the framework conditions must be suitable and company-specific requirements must be met with regard to the technical feasibility, cost-effectiveness and financing of the emission reduction measures.

Together with the participating industrial companies and the state government, Sasol Germany is working on projects, measures and roadmaps to achieve climate neutrality on the west coast of Schleswig-Holstein.