Our operations are energy intensive. Nobian produces high purity vacuum salt through a solution mining process. Through the electrolysis of brine, we produce three main substances from the extracted salt: chlorine, caustic soda and hydrogen. These processes require steam, electricity and gas. An increasing amount of the energy we use comes from renewable sources. Our goal is to use 100% renewable energy by 2040.
Through electrolysis our salt is used to produce chlorine, caustic soda and hydrogen. Nobian also produces other derivatives such as chloromethanes, hydrochloric acid and ferric chloride. We (re-)sell gas, electricity and steam to co-located customers as part of our role as a utility provider in several chemical clusters. Hydrogen is used both captively (i.e., to replace gas in steam production) and sold to customers.
In addition to the steam we purchase from waste incinerators and biomass plants, Nobian also produces large amounts of steam and electricity itself. Through our own combined heat and power plants, such as Delesto 1 (Delfzijl) and Salinco (Hengelo), we supply steam, electricity, cooling water and compressed air to neighboring companies at the chemical park. We also supply electricity to the public grid via our Delesto 2 cogeneration plant. In Hengelo, Nobian delivers residual heat to the district heat grid.
Because energy is critical to our operations and our manufacturing processes are energy intensive, we are motivated to keep our energy supply reliable and affordable. Purchasing renewable energy is one way we can meet our sustainability goals. Through our Grow Greener Together program, we are stepping up our efforts to increase the share of renewable energy in our energy mix. To achieve this, Nobian has a dedicated energy team and an ambitious energy efficiency program in place. We closely monitor and anticipate relevant market developments and regulatory developments in the energy sector.