Carbon2Chem: thyssenkrupp Decarbonization Technologies’ lighthouse plant to transform emissions from hard-to-abate industries like steel production into valuable & sustainable chemicals through innovative collaboration approaches

The formation of the new segment Decarbon Technologies (DT) in October 2023 testimonies thyssenkrupp’s recognition of the strategic importance of innovating and leading in a rapidly evolving industrial landscape focused on sustainability, to capitalize on the potential of the green transformation and drive value-creating growth.

The new segment bundles businesses enabling industrial customers to advance their commitment towards climate goals, with a comprehensive portfolio of decarbonization technologies related to the generation of green electrons, the production of green hydrogen & chemicals as well as the capturing of GHG industrial emissions.

Since 2018 the Carbon2Chem’s pilot plant in Germany exemplifies DT’s mission for developing innovative and sustainable technology solutions to support industrial growth while aligning with global efforts to combat climate change. The project is being jointly coordinated by Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology, thyssenkrupp AG and the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion – and funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

The plant captures and cleans up the CO₂ emissions from the local steel production, (like the coke oven, the blast furnace and the converter gases), to combine them with the green hydrogen produced through an alkaline water electrolysis process to synthetize valuable chemicals like methanol (and ammonia).

This DT’s lighthouse project shows how Carbon Capture Utilization (CCU) solutions can open new revenue streams for the industry and hence contribute to economic growth, while supporting the achievement of national and international climate goals, like the targets set by the Paris Agreement.

Carbon2Chem highlights also the need for cross-industrial cooperation in providing holistic decarbonization technology solutions, where different industries (e.g., steel and chemical) collaborate to utilize each other's technologies and by-products. Such an interconnected ecosystem approach maximizes resource efficiency and minimizes environmental impact.

The technologies and processes developed in Carbon2Chem can be scaled up and transferred for use in other carbon-intensive industries, like cement, enhancing the global potential for significant CO₂ emission reductions.

Carbon2Chem is also an example of the need for collaboration between academia, industry, and government bodies, to drive research and development in decarbonization technologies. This partnership model accelerates the discovery and implementation of effective climate technology solutions.

High-profile projects like Carbon2Chem raise public awareness about the potential of CCU technologies and can influence policy development, encouraging more supportive frameworks for decarbonization initiatives.

In summary, Carbon2Chem is pivotal for advancing decarbonization technologies due to its comprehensive approach to reduce industrial CO₂ emissions, fostering economic and environmental sustainability, and supporting global climate objectives.

The Carbon2Chem concept is extremely suitable for Japan as well considering the many industrial zones especially on Honshu. Various industries are in close proximity and could share waste carbon-gases via a backbone to produce valuable chemicals for further usage. In close technical cooperation between Japan and Germany the technology can be transferred, specifications adapted to local requirements and ultimately a benefit for the environment achieved.

Dr. Cetin Nazikkol
thyssenkrupp, Chief Strategy Officer Decarbon Technologies,
Chief Transformation Officer & CEO Regional Platform Asia, Pacific, Africa

Dr. Nazikkol brings over two decades of distinguished leadership and transformative vision to thyssenkrupp. Since joining the company in 1996, his trajectory has been marked by his commitment to innovation and operational excellence.

In 2010, Dr. Nazikkol assumed the role of Vice President at thyssenkrupp Elevator, where he spearheaded strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing the global Service Business. He transitioned to CEO positions for thyssenkrupp AG and thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions in Türkiye, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific region from 2013, driving sustainable growth across diverse markets. Since 2020, Dr. Nazikkol is CEO of thyssenkrupp’s Regional Platform Asia, Pacific & Africa.

In addition to his regional role, Dr. Nazikkol was appointed Chief Transformation Officer in August 2023, overseeing thyssenkrupp's global performance program "APEX". In October 2023, he became Member of the Board (Chief Strategy Officer) of thyssenkrupp's Decarbon Technologies segme.

Dr. Nazikkol's academic background includes a Diploma and PhD in Chemistry from the University of Münster in Germany, complemented by an Executive Master in Business Administration from Hogeschool Zeeland in the Netherlands.