The possibilities behind cutting-edge technologies blending with architectural advantages to generate beautiful energy efficient buildings | Shutterstock

Heinz Haller, Executive Vice President and President of Dow Europe, Middle East, Africa and India | DOW

The European Union is about to take important decisions that will decide how we will produce, distribute and consume energy. Such a modern, reliable and low-carbon energy system requires innovative and modern materials. Alongside energy and digital technology, chemicals are essential if the EU is to succeed in providing its Clean Energy for All Europeans proposals.

What is a senior executive of a global chemical company doing at a European energy conference?

Last week, I was in Brussels speaking at a high-level EU energy policy conference. What is a senior executive of a global chemical company doing at a European energy conference? Arguing against EU energy policy? No, calling to strengthen it! The chemical industry is providing key solutions for energy efficiency, storage and renewables and is actually working to improve its own energy performance even more. Over the past 25 years, industrys energy consumption has decreased by 24 percent while production has increased by 70 percent. That is an impressive bump in energy efficiency since 1990 and that doesnt include any credit for the benefits of our products.

I came to Brussels to make EU policymakers aware of the contribution chemicals make to Europes energy system. As a global leader in the chemical industry, at Dow we understand that we play an important role in creating Europes energy future. We produce modern, innovative materials; we make building insulation, high-strength materials for wind turbine blades and lightweight vehicles, seals and heat transfer fluids for solar power, energy efficiency electrical cables, and many more innovations needed for energy storage. Not many people realize that without chemicals we would not be able to build the Energy Union we want and provide Clean Energy for All Europeans.

If we want Europe to be more energy efficient, we will need products of the chemical industry to do the job.

For example, as the worlds major producer of silicones, I am very proud that thanks to such products, wind turbines can resist extreme weather, require less maintenance and be more reliable. Silicones are also essential to bind the giant rotor blades to the turbines themselves. And because silicones can withstand the suns unrelenting rays year after year, they are ideal for solar technology. Take solar panels for example, advancements using silicones have made them far more efficient, durable and affordable than ever before. Assembling and installing solar cells is also easier now, thanks to silicones. Its no wonder that 90 percent of solar panels today make use of them. Altogether, solar accounts for 10 percent of Europes share of renewable electricity. If we want Europe to be more energy efficient, we will need products of the chemical industry to do the job. So the question is not whether we need these products but rather: will we be able to develop, produce and use them in Europe or not?

I was pleased to see EU Research Commissioner Moedas speaking about Europes research funding going towards innovation in the energy sector. It shows that the European Commission is trying to take a comprehensive approach and is trying to break silos. I look forward to also seeing a greater involvement of DG GROW and DG Environment in ensuring that the decisions we take in the field of chemical policy do not make it unnecessarily more difficult or more expensive to provide the solutions to meet the EUs energy and climate targets.

Without chemicals we will not be able to build the Energy Union and provide Clean Energy for All Europeans. The good news is that Europe already has a strong and innovative chemical industry developing and producing materials that allow us to make our homes, vehicles and offices more comfortable and energy efficient. But innovation is a never-ending process and there is so much more that we can create and improve. I am excited about the challenges ahead; as we like to think at Dow, lets imagine the possibilities and find out how the innovative solutions that the chemical industry brings will turn them into realities.

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The chemistry of clean energy - POLITICO.eu