EMBRACING THE PATH TO NET ZERO BY 2065
Rieckermann organizes seminar and networking luncheon on decarbonizing the chemical and energy industry in Thailand
The dedicated Rieckermann industry team was recently in Thailand for their seminar and networking luncheon on decarbonizing the chemical and energy industry, held in collaboration with esteemed partner and renowned provider of integrated green technology solutions, Casale SA. The event was part of Rieckermann’s initiative to address the controversial issue of carbon emissions in the industry, especially in the context of Thailand as one of the leading integrated natural gas, LNG, refinery, petrochemical, and energy players in the region.
Gathering various experts and industry players, the event served as a platform for them to share their know-how and best practices in support of Thailand’s efforts to achieve as close to zero carbon emissions as possible by 2065. Also present were numerous industry professionals, including representatives from Thailand’s global energy giant PTT, its many subsidiaries (PTT Group), several other chemical and energy related entities, as well as both local and international engineering companies.
The seminar opened with a welcoming speech by Rieckermann’s Head of Country (Thailand) Marcus Grundke, who reaffirmed the company’s longstanding commitment to supporting Thailand’s decarbonization initiatives. This was followed by an insightful address given by Dr. Pongvipa Lohsomboon from the Thailand Science Research & Innovation Agency (TSRI), which provided some insights into Thailand’s national net zero emissions target roadmap. Dr. Pongvipa also emphasized the need for both carbon capture and utilization (CCU) and carbon capture and storage (CCS) enablers and technologies in the industry, which are crucial to achieving the country’s emission goals. In particular, she highlighted the vital role played by government agencies, public and financial sectors, as well as chemical and energy companies in leading decarbonization efforts and sustainable practices in Thailand.
Markus Roth, Rieckermann’s Head of Center of Competence (Southeast Asia and India) shared the company’s new outlook on becoming a co-investor in green and sustainable technologies for several industry segments. These are advanced biodiesel, pre-treatment of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO), and the plastic-to-fuel conversion process. In addition, he also described the company’s recent co-investment in a small-scale LNG liquefaction plant in Indonesia in more detail, underlining Rieckermann’s commitment to becoming an industry leader of the energy transition initiative.
One of the highlights of the seminar was Casale’s presentation of various innovative approaches to decarbonization that showcased their cutting-edge smart blue and green ammonia as well as blue hydrogen technologies. To ensure a more sustainable future for the industry, Casale also outlined their solutions for cleaner production processes of green methanol such as e-methanol and bio-methanol.
All attendees received two additional technical papers from Rieckermann to assist them in the achievement of sustainability goals. The first paper explored the promising circular innovation of carbon dioxide (CO2) valorization, an electrochemical conversion technology that converts CO2 to valuable synthetic gas (syngas), chemicals, and fuels. The second paper focused on industrial waste heat utilization via mechanical vapor recompression (MVR), which is used primarily in industrial processes such as evaporation and distillation. This energy recovery mechanism enables the heat produced from these processes to be recovered and reused, increasing efficiency and decreasing energy consumption.
During Q&A sessions and on-site discussions, the attendees were able to gain valuable insights from the presenters as well as network with industry key peers.
The seminar and network luncheon on decarbonizing the chemical and energy industries took place on March 19, 2024, at the Sofitel Sukhumvit Bangkok in Thailand. Similar events were also held in Malaysia and Vietnam in 2023 and most recently in South Korea this year.
