The Brightsite partners, Sitech Services, TNO, Maastricht University and Brightlands Chemelot Campus have signed the cooperation agreement on 25 June 2019 and have appointed Arnold Stokking as director. Under his leadership, Brightsite will immediately start working on the Chemelot site with six program lines to make the process industry more sustainable.
Brightsite will give an impulse to the development and commercial application of innovative technologies so that the process industry in general and the Chemelot site in particular can achieve its sustainability and safety objectives. These objectives are in line with the climate challenge and energy transition.
Arnold Stokking, director of Brightsite:
“Brightsite’s assignment involves a large-scale public-private partnership with knowledge development from fundamental research to the realization of pilot installations on the Chemelot site. A great assignment where a large amount of knowledge and expertise from all parties comes together. I am proud of receiving the confidence of both industry and research institutes TNO and Maastricht University to contribute with them and many others to this important mission to curb global warming. We are committed to sustainably safeguarding and promoting employment, first and foremost in Limburg, but also for other locations in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.”
Realization the ambition of a climate neutral site
In 2018, the companies at the Chemelot site drew up a joint ambition and plan to achieve a climate neutral chemical site in 2050. Brightsite fulfills this ambition. Involvement of the Chemelot companies is crucial to be successful as a center and to achieve the climate objectives. We are therefore very pleased with the commitment expressed by the members of the Chemelot Board and the contribution for the coming years in the form of assignments to Brightsite. In 2020, 40 knowledge workers are expected to be active on and for the Chemelot site, with knowledge building and practical examples in the field of sustainability, which other European companies and industrial sites can also use in the long term.
The initial Brightsite activities are focused on the following 6 program lines:
- Emission reduction through electrification
- Emission reduction through replacement of naphtha and natural gas consumption
- Reduction of in-process and post-process emissions
- Guaranteeing process safety and social acceptance
- Transition scenarios and system integration to 2030-2050
- Education and human capital
Brightsite fits seamlessly with the innovation policy of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate focused on energy transition and sustainability of the process industry. With Brightsite, the companies on the Chemelot site are therefore taking a concrete step towards realizing the objectives of the Climate Agreement in collaboration with knowledge partners. In the context of the ‘Education and human capital’ program line, for example, Maastricht University will develop new education programs with a strong focus on ‘circular engineering and sustainable manufacturing’.
Signing of the cooperation agreement with the Steering committee (front row) Nick Bos (Maastricht University), Marinke Wijngaard (TNO), Marc Dassen (Sitech Services) and Bert Kip (Brightlands Chemelot Campus). Supported by (second row) Emmo Meijer (on behalf of Topsector Chemistry), Arnold Stokking (Brightsite new director) and Robert Claasen (on behalf of Chemelot).
