Big impact

The "traditional" industry remains important during the energy transition. However, CO2 extraction can reduce the speed of climate change. By converting CO2 into raw materials, an alternative energy source is created. This form of recycling saves a lot of energy, improves air quality and has major impact. There are still critical questions:

• To what extent can climate change be stopped by reducing CO2 emissions?
• Is there a sufficient sense of urgency?
• Is CO2 emission reduction a responsibility of the companies that produce CO2?

The contribution from Twente

Twente may be a small region, but we are still aware that the CO2 emissions on our 1500 square kilometres have a negative impact on the greenhouse effect. That is why we develop smart solutions that aim at achieving an effect not only in our region but also nationally and globally. The University of Twente is developing means of transport that run on alternative energy sources such as sun and hydrogen. The Twente Solar Car and Solar Boat are very successful. The same applies to a local solution from the town of Hertme where a system has been developed that converts heat from cooling installations into heat for homes.

The Twente-based company HoST offers state-of-the-art installations for anaerobic fermentation and for biogas upgrading. The biogas produced in the digesters can be used to produce biobased electricity. Biogas is a renewable source of energy and offers opportunities to reduce CO2 emissions, while bio-waste is reused instead of wasted.

With these smart solutions, Twente not only contributes to reducing CO2 emissions but also sets the circular economy in motion.