immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: Negativemissionstechnologien

  • Five technologies on the way to net zero

    Five technologies on the way to net zero

    The TA-Swiss study aims to inform policy-makers and the public about the opportunities, limits and risks of different methods for CO2 extraction and storage. Aspects such as feasibility, climate effectiveness, costs, resource consumption and impacts on the environment and population were considered.

    The five technologies are:

    • the storage of CO2 as biomass in forests and the use of wood
    • storage in the form of humus in the soil and the use of plant carbon
    • capture and storage of CO2 from biomass combustion (BECCS)
    • removal from the air and storage (DACCS)
    • the accelerated weathering of demolition concrete and rock (carbonation)

    Each of the five NETs was assessed based on the current state of knowledge and with the help of expert interviews. Potential opportunities, risks, synergies and conflicts were identified and considered from a system perspective. Based on this, general and specific, technology-related options for action and recommendations were derived and reflected on together with selected stakeholders.

    The most important general recommendations of the study
    In order for NET’s contribution to the net-zero target to be implemented in an environmentally and socially compatible manner, politics and society should address the issue at an early stage. This requires in particular that the public is involved in shaping the conditions of use of NET by means of fact-based and comprehensible information.

    There is a need for an overarching strategy for the use of limited resources, such as renewable energy, water, biomass and soil, and for financing for the development and implementation of NET.

    Further research is needed to determine the potential of the different technologies.

    It must be possible to record the amount of CO2 removed from the atmosphere in the long term in a transparent and simple way to create a reliable assessment framework and avoid counting the same CO2 more than once.

    The minimum period of CO2 fixation from which a technology or NET project is recognised in terms of the Climate Strategy should be reflected.

    NETs can only be used as a supplement to the priority reduction of greenhouse gas emissions when achieving the net zero target. Therefore, it is important that separate targets apply to the reduction of CO2 emissions and to CO2 removal.

    Switzerland currently has a pioneering role in the development of NET. This competitive advantage should be further strengthened by promoting the relevant research and development, as well as demonstration projects.

  • Zürichholz increases share capital

    Zürichholz increases share capital

    Zürichholz issues shares worth 3 million Swiss francs. As the wood marketer writes in a press release , the capital increase creates “a high-yield, sustainable investment opportunity” for qualified investors from the Swiss forest, wood and CO2 industries”. The company, which specializes in logs and energy wood, reached a new growth stage in 2019 after a consolidation phase. With the additional share capital, the company intends to continue growing in the forward-looking business areas of hardwood processing and biochar production.

    Since the groundbreaking ceremony in November 2021, Zürichholz has been building a new operations center in Illnau ZH for around 12 million francs, which is scheduled to go into operation at the end of 2022. This includes a pyrolysis plant for the production of biochar, a garage and workshop for the vehicle fleet, a wood chip hall to increase the capacity of the Aubrugg wood-fired power plant, offices for Zurich wood with rental capacity for third parties and a heating center for the Illnau heating network.

    The increasing demand for wood is reflected in a “very pleasing” balance sheet for the 2021 financial year. The company expects sales to jump from 15 million Swiss francs to 20 million in the medium term.

    The canton and city of Zurich are among the approximately 300 shareholders as large forest owners, which gives the share “additional stability and potential”. The issue price is CHF 1,400 per share with 2 to 1 subscription rights. Trading in subscription rights is excluded. The long-term dividend yield of nominally 5 percent should be maintained.

    Wood is becoming increasingly popular from a climate point of view. This applies to construction and industry, in energy production and as pyrolysis wood in bioenergy. Timber stocks are not only financially worthwhile. An investment in the forest and timber industry also pays off with a view to “climate management and net zero obligations of companies and the public sector,” it says. Due to its high CO2-reducing effect, wood is considered one of the leading negative emission technologies ( NET ) because it can absorb greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and thus minimize them.