Study names levers for decarbonization

13.05.2026

Source: E & M powernews

The Competence Centre for Climate Protection in Energy-Intensive Industries (KEI) has examined success factors and obstacles to decarbonization in a study.

The Competence Center for Climate Protection in Energy-Intensive Industries (KEI) from Cottbus (Brandenburg) published the accompanying study "Transformation factors for a climate-friendly industry" on 12 May. The 70-page analysis examines which factors promote or slow down the decarbonization of energy-intensive industries and how climate protection and competitiveness influence each other.

According to the KEI, the study is based on 30 qualitative interviews with companies from the primary industry that were involved in projects of the now expired federal funding programme "Decarbonization in Industry" (DDI). Representatives from management positions in various sectors of the energy-intensive industry were interviewed between 2024 and 2025.

Political framework must be right

The study comes to the conclusion that climate protection and competitiveness are not necessarily contradictory. Stable site conditions are crucial for investments in climate-friendly production processes to become economically viable. The KEI identifies technical, economic, infrastructural, regulatory and social influencing factors.

Jakob Flechtner, Director of the KEI, explained in a webinar on the publication of the study that the transformation to a climate-neutral industry is "far more than a technological challenge". Companies only invest where energy supply, infrastructure, demand for climate-friendly products, social acceptance and regulatory framework conditions fit together.

Concrete recommendations for action

The study formulates several recommendations for policy-makers. According to the KEI, these include competitive energy prices, faster and more standardized approval procedures and the coordinated expansion of energy and hydrogen infrastructure. The analysis also recommends creating lead markets for climate-friendly products and relieving companies of operating costs during the transformation phase.

For the industry itself, the study sees cooperation and knowledge sharing as key success factors. Regional cooperation, joint infrastructure projects and innovative participation models could facilitate investments and spread risks. The study also cites employee training and open communication about new technologies as prerequisites for successful implementation.

Industry is on its way

According to the KEI, the interviews show that many companies are already pursuing concrete decarbonization strategies. Around 73 percent of the companies surveyed had formulated clear goals and timetables for the transformation. Some were already aiming for climate-neutral production by 2030. The companies cited the electrification of plants, the switch to climate-friendly energy sources, process conversions, energy efficiency measures and circular economy approaches as key measures.

According to the KEI, the question for many companies is no longer whether they will transform, but how. Economic viability primarily influences the speed and prioritization of individual measures. Under the current framework conditions, the profitability calculation of many decarbonization projects is negative. Nevertheless, many companies consider the transformation to be necessary in order to remain competitive in the long term.

According to the companies surveyed, subsidy programs remain an important factor. In the short and medium term, government subsidies serve to limit economic risks and cushion additional costs until markets accept higher prices for climate-friendly products. In the long term, however, decarbonization measures would have to pay for themselves economically.

The KEI study on transformation factors is available for download as a PDF.

Author: Susanne Harmsen