Study: Many companies only at the beginning of decarbonization

Many small and medium-sized companies in Saxony are still in the early stages of switching to more climate-friendly production processes. This is the result of a study on decarbonization options for the Saxon economy, which was commissioned by the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

According to the study, the switch to CO2-free processes by 2045 represents a technical and economic challenge for many companies. While large energy-intensive industries are already pursuing concrete decarbonization roadmaps, there are still uncertainties among SMEs - for example regarding technologies, investments or the role of electricity, hydrogen and efficiency measures.

Economics Minister Dirk Panter (SPD) also sees this as an opportunity for the economy. "The climate-conscious restructuring of our economy is no longer an issue for the future, but is already taking place," said Panter. Those who act now will secure competitiveness, prosperity and jobs.

Energy consumption of the sectors under review

The study examined 19 economic sectors and parts of the skilled trades. All in all, the sectors in Saxony consume around 15.5 terawatt hours of final energy per year, of which around 42 percent is already electrified. The share of renewable energies in gross electricity consumption in the Free State is currently around 28 percent.

According to the study, the paper industry is particularly energy-intensive with around 2.2 terawatt hours per year, followed by the food and beverage industry (2.1 TWh) and the manufacture of data processing equipment such as computers or printers (2.0 TWh).

In order to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the use of fossil fuels such as natural gas, oil or coal must be gradually replaced by climate-friendly alternatives. Efficiency measures, electrification and the switch to renewable fuels such as biogas or green hydrogen are seen as key levers.

Industry profiles for guidance

The study also contains industry profiles with decarbonization options for glass, ceramics, paper, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, mechanical engineering and the food industry, for example. There are also corresponding overviews for trades such as bakers, butchers and textile cleaners.

Panter also emphasized the importance of the energy infrastructure for the transformation. "The upstream energy infrastructure is crucial for the feasibility of decarbonization technologies," said the minister. Reliable grid connections and access to affordable green energy sources are important.

The study was carried out by the Research Center for Energy Economics in Munich on behalf of the Saxon Energy Agency Saena.