all projects

Climate path
implementation in
Baden-Württemberg

Client

Baden-Württemberg Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BWIHK)

Year

2024


Businesses in Baden-Württemberg have already adopted a range of climate protection measures in recent years. Nevertheless, greenhouse gas emissions remain high. The reason: efficiency-enhancing measures are veiled by increased production. 

By 2030, CO2 emissions from industry in Baden-Württemberg are to be reduced by a further 23 percent – which corresponds to double the previous annual rate of reduction. On behalf of the Baden-Württembergischer Industrie- und Handelskammertag (BWIHK), Prognos investigated what businesses and political actors will need to as soon as possible to achieve this goal.

Businesses need support on the path to transformation

Many companies need information and support to equip them to address the challenges of climate neutrality. These two key issues particularly concerned:

  • What specific measures are required in the various sectors to achieve climate goals?
  • How quickly will they need to be implemented?

Various levers to achieve climate goals

Prognos examined the key levers that can be used to achieve the goals and developed a time frame for when they can be tackled. In addition to energy efficiency and renewable energies, this includes established and new low-greenhouse gas or neutral production technologies, as well as a strategic approach and cooperation between the various actors.

The most important company-specific recommendations for action that will be relevant before 2030 are:

  • efficiency first
  • expanding district and environmental heating as well as solar thermal energy
  • constructing furnaces for solid biogenic fuels
  • initiating the (intelligent) electrification of process heat supply
  • implementing an energy audit and EMS measures, short-term
  • driving waste heat usage
  • installing heat pumps and using district heating in non-residential buildings
  • insulating non-residential buildings
  • strengthening secondary routes 

In addition, the study develops further company-related recommendations for action that will be significant for the subsequent goal of a climate-neutral economy and whose planning should begin well before 2030:

  • deep geothermal energy
  • use of green hydrogen as fuel
  • carbon separation at cement clinker and lime plants
  • considering flexibility and storage options

The transformation costs for companies will amount to around ten billion euros by 2030 and a further nine billion euros by 2040. In contrast, savings in energy costs will be around nine billion euros by 2030 and a further almost 35 billion euros by 2040. The conclusion: transformation will require intensive efforts from all actors, but it can succeed.

Our approach

Prognos implemented a multi-stage investigation concept: a total of three modules are devoted to the set of figures for the climate paths in Baden-Württemberg, the challenges of transformation as well as the subsequent options for action that will support transformation. The 25 recommendations for action derived from the findings were categorised in terms of their target group (sectors), transformation lever, relevance, degree of ambition, and the field of action (instruments, policy). These group- and stakeholder-specific recommendations support companies in their transformation to a low-emission economy and prevent undesirable developments by avoiding stranded investments.

Links and downloads

To the study (PDF in German)

More information on the BWIHK website (in German)

Project team: Dr Almut Kirchner, Paurnima Kulkarni, Dr Fabian Muralter, Dr Alexander Piégsa

Latest update: 16.01.2024

Do you have questions?

Your contact at Prognos

Dr Almut Kirchner

Partner, Director

View profile

Dr Alexander Piegsa

Senior Expert Models & Industry

View profile

Mehr Studien & Projekte zu diesem Thema

More studies & projects on this topic

A greener economy through green finance

2024
| Project

With green finance, greenhouse gases in Austria can be reduced by up to four per cent by 2040 – in the bond market alone. This is the result of our study commissioned by the Ministry for Climate Action.

In dialogue – electricity grid expansion in Germany

2023
| Project

Prognos supports transmission and distribution system operators in the planning and construction communication of the various power line construction projects at the extra-high and high-voltage level.

Supporting the Jordanian-German Energy Partnership

ongoing
| Project

The exchange of information and experience within this partnership helps move the energy transition forward in both countries. Prognos is assisting the dena with the implementation of the partnership.

Climate protection potential of the recycling economy

2024
| Project

If Germany is to achieve its climate targets, additional efforts will be necessary. We calculated the potential for climate protection in the recycling economy on behalf of the Federal Ministry for the Economy.

ADAC Mobility Index 2024

2024
| Project

Mobility in Germany is becoming increasingly sustainable. However, the transport sector is yet to achieve its national and international climate targets. The ADAC Mobility Index looks at the reasons why.

Electricity Price Forecasts 2024

2024
| Project

Electricity prices are closely linked to the development of gas prices. Using three supply scenarios for natural gas we developed forecasts for the development of electricity prices up to the year 2045.

Climate Neutral Germany – From Target Setting to Implementation

2024
| Project

How can Germany as an industry location achieve net zero by 2045, whilst still maintaining its competitiveness? This study updates our 2021 calculations made on behalf of Agora Think Tanks.

Financing options for Austria’s hydrogen network

2024
| Project

Austria wants a hydrogen network in place by 2030. We investigated how the development of this network can be financed on behalf of the Austrian Climate Protection Ministry.

Scenario analysis for the long-term strategy negative emissions

ongoing
| Project

Prognos is preparing a scenario analysis for dena and the BMWK to calculate the demand for and potential of negative emissions in Germany.

Policy scenarios for the 2025-2027 projection reports

ongoing
| Project

Prognos and its partners support the preparation of the German government's 2025 to 2027 greenhouse gas projection reports.

About us

Prognos – Providing Orientation.

Prognos is one of the oldest economic research centres in Europe. Founded at the University of Basel, Prognos experts have been conducting research for a wide range of clients from the public and private sectors since 1959 – politically independent, scientifically sound.

Learn more