How energy and chemistry converge for a fossil-free future

Summary, in English

The chemical industry must undergo a dual transformation: electrifying energy use and defossilizing carbon feedstocks. This paper, developed by ENGIEs Scientific Council, examines how energy and chemistry can converge to enable this shift. We assess the roles of biomass, recycled plastics, and CO₂ as sustainable carbon sources and explore the enabling potential of electrification, low-carbon hydrogen, and direct air capture. Novel process pathways and infrastructure scenarios are analyzed to highlight strategic opportunities for cross-sectoral collaboration. Our findings underscore the need for coordinated investment, policy support, and alignment with renewable energy geography to achieve a resilient, fossil-free future.

• Author: Jan Mertens; Christian Breyer; Ronnie Belmans; Corinne Gendron; Patrice Geoffron; Carolyn Fischer; Elodie Du Fornel; Olivier Ledent; Richard Lester; Kimberly A. Nicholas; Laura Megrelis; Paulo Emilio Valadão de Miranda; Celine Paton; Alice Prudhomme; Peter Verwee; Olivier Sala; Michael Webber; Koenraad Debackere
• Department/s: LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies); BECC: Biodiversity and Ecosystem services in a Changing Climate; LU Profile Area: Nature-based future solutions
• Publishing year: 2025-11-21
• Language: English
• Publication/Series: iScience
• Volume: 28
• Issue: 11
• Links: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2025.113787
• Document type: Journal article review
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Topic: Energy Systems
• Keywords: earth sciences; energy policy; energy resources; energy sustainability; energy systems
• Status: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 2589-0042