TNO Green Print accelerates sustainable industry

To keep the energy transition feasible and affordable in the short term, it is essential to use blue hydrogen. Our SEWGS breakthrough innovation enables steel producers and refineries to cheaply and easily convert CO2 captured from process gases into blue hydrogen.

In addition to SEWGS, we also developed the SEDMES technology. We use it to convert captured CO2 with green hydrogen into useful by-products, chemicals and fuels (such as dimethyl ether).

Industrial thermal energy storage (TES) has the potential to make a major contribution to reducing the greenhouse effect. The majority of industrial energy demand consists of process heat, which is currently generated from fossil fuels. TES makes it possible to meet this demand using renewable energy. These are the conclusions drawn in a study by the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA), to which TNO made important contributions.

We’re working on several projects to make industrial heat management more sustainable. We’re doing this in collaboration with end users, suppliers, and other partners. Find out what projects we’re currently working on.

In the project SOLIDARITY, TNO and partners are working together to demonstrate cost-effective drying & dewatering in the process industry. They do this by combining technology and innovations in liquid-solid and liquid-liquid separations, leading to less use of heat, increased use of (clean) electricity and improved process efficiency.

Together with tech employers' organisations FME, Deltalinqs, the Port of Rotterdam Authority and InnovationQuarter, we established the Fieldlab Industrial Electrification (FLIE). FLIE offers companies practical support and clearly defined solutions for transitioning from fossil fuels to electrification.

In line with this, we are working with companies in the manufacturing industry to optimise electrolysers. This is done in the Electrolyser Makers Platform.

With our knowledge partner Forschungzentrum Jülich, we are developing a joint German-Dutch hydrogen market which has the potential to grow to seven times its current size by 2050. In the HY3 project, we are exploring new value chains with our partners. Hydrogen production on the Dutch and German North Sea will then be connected to large industrial clusters in both countries.

The transport sector is a major consumer of fossil energy. The proportion of renewable energy is only a few percent. European regulations require this to be 14% by 2030, of which 3.5% must be biofuels to provide affordable biofuels for road transport, shipping and, eventually, aviation.

From innovations for new plastic product designs to sustainable technologies to recycle plastics. TNO makes it possible to make the plastics we use circular.

To this end, we also develop system models with which we sketch future scenarios, such as our Plastics Recycling Impact Scenario model. With this, TNO has shown that, in an ideal situation, the Netherlands could be 87% circular by 2050.

Microplastics: much in the news, but there is still very little knowledge of exactly where they come from, how they are formed and what the risks are for humans and nature. The focus here is mainly on packaging, tyres and textiles.

Esther van den Beuken, TNO: 'Through research, we want to accurately characterise microplastics to identify the risks and counteract their formation. Ultimately, this is how we want to realise a society that is one hundred per cent circular.'

The transformation to a sustainable industry requires system changes. Our society faces major challenges from climate change, depletion of natural resources, loss of biodiversity and other threats. Collaborative business models support working on practical applicable methods to help coalitions of parties shape the transition.

Two scenarios illustrate a vision for energy supply in the Netherlands after 2030 and provide insight into the implications of the more stringent targets. They show how a climate-neutral energy system can be achieved by various sustainability initiatives. The starting point is the pursuit of an energy system at the lowest cost to society.

The energy transition must happen more quickly. For a number of dominant sectors, TNO indicates important options that could accelerate the current pace of development. It has also established which knowledge questions per sector still need to be answered. It is clear that the energy transition requires much more than only technological solutions. At least as important are costs, behaviour and the availability of professionals.

Now that the electricity and gas infrastructure is facing large-scale expansion and renewal, the government must be able to answer the many questions that may consequently arise. As an independent knowledge-based organisation, TNO advises and supports ministries, provinces, municipalities and regions in implementing effective policies. We also bring public and private parties together. As an orchestrator of innovation, we help government and industry to join forces. This requires more transparency from both sides. With our energy experts, economists, behavioural scientists and other disciplines, we offer all the knowledge required to help accelerate the sustainability of industry.

We work with government, suppliers and industry together in projects and platforms to develop and upscale technologies. Our aim is to make this possible within a few years, and on a large scale.