Rheinfelden. Evonik's Rheinfelden site recently welcomed CDU members of the German Bundestag Felix Schreiner and Fabian Gramling for a discussion on the challenges of the energy transition and the political framework conditions for industry.
Since the Lörrach-Müllheim constituency currently has no direct representation in the Bundestag—Stefan Glaser (CDU) failed to win a seat in parliament due to the new electoral law—Felix Schreiner is also responsible for this constituency in addition to his own constituency of Waldshut-Hochschwarzwald and his duties as parliamentary secretary of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag. Site manager Jörg Falkenberg expressed his sincere thanks for this. “Every constituency should be represented in the Bundestag,” said Schreiner.
As the CDU/CSU parliamentary group's lead rapporteur for hydrogen and representative of Baden-Württemberg in the Bundestag Committee on Economic Affairs and Energy, Fabian Gramling also showed great interest in the situation of the local chemical industry and its transformation options.
Reducing energy costs
Site manager Jörg Falkenberg explained that the massive increase in natural gas prices is making international competition significantly more difficult. “In order to be able to produce competitively here, energy costs must be significantly reduced,” he emphasized. His site is currently still heavily dependent on natural gas. Therefore, transformation concepts are under discussion, but these must fit into integrated production and be economically viable in the long term.
Reliable framework conditions and adequate subsidy programs, for example for grid infrastructure, heat supply, and green electricity, are necessary in order to advance the transformation of industry in the Upper Rhine region at an early stage and make it a success. The possibility of producing cost-covering green hydrogen at the site is also important for competitiveness.
Another point is the adjustment of the European Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). Other regions of the world without comparable CO2 pricing are determining the market. “We therefore need adjustments at the European level that take into account the current trade and geopolitical situation,” said Falkenberg. “By 2032, we expect additional burdens in the double-digit million euro range. These reduce the options for action for our location and the entire chemical industry in Germany,” he explains.
Felix Schreiner emphasized: “For the chemical industry in the Upper Rhine region, climate protection and economic competitiveness must go hand in hand. We are committed to ensuring that the EU emissions trading system is designed fairly so that German companies remain internationally competitive and jobs are secured.”
The future is being created here
“Germany as a chemical industry location is the key to innovation and value creation,” explained Fabian Gramling. “The visit to Evonik in Rheinfelden shows that the future is being created here. To ensure that this remains the case, our companies need reliable framework conditions, competitive energy prices, and above all, real momentum for innovation instead of stagnation.”
Falkenberg thanked the members of the Bundestag for the valuable exchange and their support. “The goal remains clear,” he said, “with innovative solutions, high productivity, and a sustainable energy supply, we are actively driving forward the transformation toward competitiveness and climate neutrality. Together, we are shaping the future of industry in the Upper Rhine region,” the site manager concluded.
