Thyssenkrupp steel mill in Duisburg: Last year, a single plant of the Group blew almost eight million tons of CO2 into the air
Photo: Martin Gerten / dpa
According to a new study, iron and steel production are the largest emitters of industrial greenhouse gases in Germany. These are the findings of a study conducted by the Oeko-Institut on behalf of the environmental organisation WWF Germany. In their paper, they break down the top 30 industrial plants in Germany by greenhouse gas emissions. Plants from iron and steel production occupy places 1 to 13, followed by a lime plant.
The focus of the study is on industrial production facilities. It largely excludes industrial power plants. This is because the report analyses the industrial emissions of emissions trading (ETS) installations.
The top position is occupied by a Thyssenkrupp steel mill in Duisburg with 7.9 million tons of CO2 in 2022. In total, iron and steel account for 47 percent of industrial ETS emissions (51 million tonnes). In the future, thyssenkrupp wants to convert steel production in Duisburg first to gas as an energy source and then to climate-friendly hydrogen, which no longer produces CO2 when burned. The changeover devours billions. The federal government and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia are prepared to promote the changeover. But it also requires EU approval.
According to the study, the thirty most CO2-intensive industrial plants in Germany caused 58 million tons of CO2 emissions last year. This means that the "Dirty Thirty" in 2022 accounted for around a third of the emissions of the industrial sector and 8 percent of Germany's total greenhouse gas emissions as defined in the Climate Protection Act.
Emissions from the industrial sector have remained almost constant since the introduction of the European Emissions Trading System (ETS), with the exception of crisis situations, the study says. The ETS has so far been the main instrument for decarbonising the industrial sector.
There are different methods of recording greenhouse gas emissions by sector. The inclusion of the respective plants in the methodology in the EU emissions trading system leaves out part of the industry, for example mobile machines in the construction industry.
According to the German Council of Experts on Climate Issues, Germany emitted a total of 746 million tonnes of greenhouse gases last year – these are preliminary figures. As a source of climate-damaging gases, industry was in second place behind the energy sector with 164 million tonnes.
DRI, REI/DPA-AFX