Themes

Electrification is an important means of making industrial processes more sustainable. By replacing fossil fuels with electricity from renewable sources, greenhouse gas emissions can be drastically reduced. This requires major adjustments to the energy system, with not only the demand for, but also the supply of electricity increasing significantly.

A future-proof energy system for industry

The region has a strong industrial base and a growing supply of sustainable energy from solar, nuclear and wind, both on land and at sea. By using these sources intelligently and linking them to industrial users, a robust and future-proof energy system is created that strengthens the competitiveness of the region.
 

Scaling up through infrastructure and system integration

The successful application of electrification requires a number of preconditions: a reliable and sufficiently heavy electricity grid, sufficient landings of wind at sea, and good coordination between grid operators, governments and the business community. System integration and cross-border cooperation are also essential to fully utilise the potential of electrification in the transition to a climate-neutral industry.

Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) is a technology aimed at reducing CO₂ emissions by capturing carbon dioxide from industrial processes, and then reusing it in processes and new products or storing it (permanently). This approach plays a key role in the transition to a climate-neutral industry, particularly for sectors where CO₂ emissions cannot be completely avoided.

CCUS for a competitive and climate-neutral industry

The Scheldt Delta region is home to a high concentration of energy-intensive industries, including steel, chemicals, refining and fertiliser production. For some of these emissions, there are currently no fully-fledged alternatives. CCUS therefore offers an important complement to other sustainability measures such as electrification, energy efficiency and hydrogen.

Thanks to the presence of large industrial clusters, ports and future connections to storage sites in the North Sea, our region has strong assets for the further development of CCUS.

Scaling up through collaboration and the right enabling conditions

To enable CCUS on a large scale, collaboration, infrastructure and a stable policy framework are essential. Investment in transport and storage infrastructure, efficient permitting processes, public acceptance and cross-border cooperation are key prerequisites for further upscaling.

By connecting businesses, ports, public authorities, network operators and research institutions, an integrated value chain is created in which CO₂ can be captured, transported, reused or stored. In this way, the region can achieve its climate targets whilst maintaining its industrial competitiveness.

The role of Smart Delta Resources

Smart Delta Resources brings together companies, ports, public authorities, network operators and research institutions to develop a cross-border CCUS value chain. Through knowledge-sharing, collaboration and coordination on infrastructure, innovation and enabling conditions, SDR supports the further development of CCUS within the North Sea Port region.

When carbon-containing residual flows from industry, waste and biobased sources are recovered and reused, we speak of circular carbon. The aim of this is to gradually replace fossil raw materials with renewable and circular alternatives. Within Smart Delta Resources, closed industrial carbon chains are being built in collaboration. Technologies such as gasification and pyrolysis play a central role in this, whereby carbon from waste or biomass is converted into new raw materials for high-quality applications.

For the Scheldt Delta region, with its strong industrial base and good logistical connections, circular carbon offers great opportunities. The region has a broad mix of residual flows and sectors, which allows chain collaboration and synergy between fossil-free, recycled and biobased raw materials to come into their own. In this way, the region can play a pioneering role in the scaling up of circular value chains.

In order to utilise this potential, a number of preconditions are essential: recognition of chemical recycling and biobased raw materials within regulations, the removal of policy barriers such as the 'end-of-waste status', a sound business case and active public-private partnership. By investing in innovation, infrastructure and system integration, circular carbon can become a structural pillar of the sustainable industry in the region.

In industry, residual heat is released during production processes, which can be used for other applications instead of being lost. Within the theme of Heat, we are working on the reuse of this industrial residual heat, both for heating buildings in the region and for other industrial processes. This can create an efficient and sustainable heating system in which energy is reused intelligently.

This approach offers great opportunities for the cross-border Scheldt Delta region. By linking existing and new heating networks to industrial sources, residential areas, offices and other companies can be heated sustainably. In addition, the mutual sharing of heat between companies strengthens regional cooperation and contributes to the reduction of CO₂ emissions.

To realize this ambition, a number of conditions are essential: a reliable infrastructure for heat transport, close cooperation between public and private parties, and appropriate legislation and regulations that enable cross-border use of heat. Only with a joint effort can heat from industry develop into a driving force in the sustainability of our region.

Hydrogen is a versatile energy carrier that plays a key role in making industrial processes more sustainable. In our region, hydrogen is already produced and used on a large scale. In fact, our region is home to the largest hydrogen cluster in the Benelux. Within the Hydrogen theme, the focus is on replacing grey hydrogen – produced with fossil energy – with low-carbon variants such as blue and green hydrogen. Collaboration on this theme contributes to the realisation of a future-proof, CO₂-free hydrogen system.

This offers enormous opportunities for our region. Thanks to its strategic location, the availability of renewable energy and a strong industrial cluster, the region can develop into a leading hydrogen hub in Europe. Local production, import, export and use of hydrogen are connected via a cross-border infrastructure network of pipelines and logistics connections. This strengthens the competitive position of the region and accelerates the energy transition.

Essential success factors for the hydrogen transition are the availability of sufficient sustainable electricity, a robust infrastructure for production, storage and transport, and intensive collaboration between governments, grid operators, companies and knowledge institutions. Only by properly coordinating these elements can hydrogen develop into a vehicle for sustainable growth for the region.

Water is of strategic importance for the sustainability of industrial processes in our region. It is not only an indispensable raw material for applications such as cooling, steam production and electrolysis, but also plays a central role in the broader raw materials transition. Within Smart Delta Resources, the focus is on reducing the use of primary raw materials, building circular chains and optimising water flows within the industrial cluster is an important part of this.

Pressure on freshwater availability

The availability of sufficient fresh water is increasingly under pressure. A good balance between supply and demand of industrially suitable fresh water is essential to ensure continuity, especially in times of drought or changing climatic conditions. Circular water use and reuse of process water offer opportunities to reduce dependence on primary water sources and to accelerate sustainability goals. 

Structural water security through collaboration and circular solutions

Collaboration, innovation and infrastructure are crucial success factors to achieve this. By connecting companies, governments, water boards and knowledge institutions, space is created for smart solutions in the field of water reuse, buffering and shared systems. In this way, the region can develop into an example of future-proof and circular water management in an industrial context based on a robust water mix, effluent reuse and the structural embedding of water security in policy.

Innovation is essential for realising a future-proof and competitive industry in our region. New technologies, smart processes and groundbreaking collaborations form the basis for the transition to a climate-neutral, sustainable and circular economy. Within Smart Delta Resources, innovation is not a goal in itself, but a structural part of the way in which we collaborate on themes such as hydrogen, electrification, circularity, heat, water and CO₂ reduction.

Innovation is of strategic importance for our region. The region is home to a versatile industrial ecosystem with room for experimentation, scaling up and knowledge sharing. By actively connecting innovation with existing infrastructure, industrial activities and logistics networks, the potential for sustainable growth is maximised.

Successful innovation requires more than just technology. Preconditions such as targeted investments, a stimulating regulatory framework, access to talent and active public-private partnerships are crucial. By bringing these elements together, the region functions as a testing ground and accelerator of industrial solutions that are also valuable internationally.

An effective and future-oriented government policy is essential for realizing a sustainable and competitive industry. Within Smart Delta Resources, we collaborate on a strategic policy contribution at regional (Zeeland and Flanders), national (Netherlands and Belgium) and European level. By linking policy development to the practice of the industry, space is created for innovation, investments and large-scale sustainability.

Smart Delta Resources has a Dutch organisation (SDR NL) and a Belgian organisation (SDR Flanders), both working together on cross-border solutions for a future-proof, sustainable industry in the Flemish-Dutch Scheldt Delta region.