Energy Efficiency and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

AkzoNobel operations
Energy Efficiency and Carbon- Efficient Energy Consumption are Key Performance Indicators for our own operations, since energy is an important raw material for some chemicals businesses. In 2008, AkzoNobel’s energy bill totaled EUR 660 million, 6.6 %s of total costs of sales.

  • The Net Energy Consumption of our businesses has improved by 12% since 1990. There is small deterioration in 2008 performance because a cogeneration unit in Holland was not in operation. Total energy consumption in 2008 was 115,000 TJ, down 1 percent from 2007 levels.

  • 73% (2007: 73%) of our worldwide power consumption from AkzoNobel sites (excluding the former ICI) is generated from renewables, nuclear and gas-fired combined heat and power (CHP) plants. These sites account for 91 percent of the total 2008 power consumption. The fuel mix of our power consumption is presented in the graph below.

Power Consumption Fuel Mix

Direct and indirect CO2 emissions from our own operations are reported in line with the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol (Scope 1 and 2 emissions): The sum of direct and indirect energy CO2 emissions from our operations was 4.6 million tons, down 1% on 2007. Emission details see graph below.

CO2 emissions

Carbon efficiency in the value chain
In 2008 - during the preparation of AkzoNobel’s new Carbon Policy  - valuable insights in Carbon emission savings opportunities in the complete value chain were obtained. 

  • Our Industrial Chemicals Business developed a framework for measuring carbon footprint of products and facilities, based on the international Greenhouse Gas Protocol and life cycle thinking, along with a rigorous process to identify and quantify improvement opportunities. The framework was tested with the World Resources Institute and several Dutch and Swedish NGOs. For more details go to Treading Carefully .

  • The AkzoNobel Sourcing Department worked with suppliers to establish a comprehensive database of raw materials’ carbon footprint. Estimated emissions from raw materials are nearly three times greater than the emission from our production and associated energy

  • There are significant opportunities to reduce application emissions in the performance coatings businesses. For more details go to Easy rider  or Trigger happy .

  • AkzoNobel Polymer Chemicals is playing a key role in the fast-growing solar cell market. The business has successfully developed new technology for the production of high purity diethyl zinc, which is used by thin film solar cell manufacturers to create the all-inportant TCO layer. More details can be found at Going solar .

 


 

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