The article discusses the high energy consumption of the chemical industry in Germany and government measures to alleviate energy costs for companies.
The article highlights the significant energy demands of companies in the chemical industry, particularly Wacker, which consumes more energy than any other industrial sector. According to the Federal Statistical Office, the chemical industry accounted for nearly 28% of the total industrial energy consumption in 2024, using a substantial 3300 petajoules. A notable portion of this energy is utilized as raw material, with natural gas and oil being essential for producing ammonia and plastics, respectively. Matthias Belitz, an energy and climate protection expert from the Association of the Chemical Industry (VCI), emphasizes the integral relationship between chemistry and energy due to the energy required for chemical reactions.
