Bayer advances energy-saving chlorine production technology
29 Jul 2011
Leverkusen, Germany – Bayer MaterialScience has started up a 20ktpa demonstration plant for the production of chlorine at its Chempark Krefeld-Uerdingen site. The unit employs oxygen depolarised cathode technology, which has been incorporated into electrolysis technology from Uhde/UHDENORA.
Provided the two-year large-scale trial is successful, Bayer said it will gradually switch its chlorine production to the new process. The project companies, it said, will also offer the new technology to the global market – with large German chlorine producers and companies in the Asia/Pacific among the interested parties.
“Improving energy efficiency in chemical production processes can considerably reduce electricity consumption in Germany and elsewhere in the world,” said Patrick Thomas, CEO of Bayer MaterialScience.
“In the present-day debate, the subject of energy efficiency is not being given enough air-time. Politicians should focus their attention not only on generating electricity but also on how to significantly lower electricity consumption with comparatively little effort,” Thomas commented.
Using model calculations, Bayer estimates that, in Germany alone the Uhde/UHDENORA technology could save electricity equivalent to that generated by a 700MW power plant.
Thomas is, therefore, calling on politicians to support not only the development of energy-efficient production processes, but also to actively support the widespread application of such technologies in industry.
“With the right incentives, enormous energy savings would be possible here within a short period of time. As a pioneer in this field, Germany could send out a clear signal in matters of energy efficiency,” said the CEO.
