  The transition towards carbon-neutral chemical production is challenging due
to the fundamental reliance of the chemical sector on petrochemical feedstocks.
Electrolysis-based manufacturing, powered by renewables, is a rapidly evolving
technology that might be capable of drastically reducing CO2 emissions from the
chemical sector. However, will it be possible to scale up electrolysis systems
to the extent necessary to entirely decarbonize all chemical plants? Applying a
forward-looking scenario, this perspective estimates how much energy will be
needed to power full-scale electrolysis based chemical manufacturing by 2050. A
significant gap is identified between the currently planned renewable energy
expansion and the energy input necessary to electrify the chemical production:
at minimum, the energy required for production of hydrogen and electrolysis of
CO2 corresponds to > 50% of all renewable energy that is planned to be
available. To cover this gap, strategies enabling a meaningful reduction of the
energy input to electrolysis are being discussed from the perspective of both a
single electrolysis system and an integrated electro-plant. Several scale-up
oriented research priorities are formulated to underpin timely development and
commercial availability of described technologies, as well as to explore
synergies and support further growth of the renewable energy sector, essential
to realize described paradigm shift in chemical manufacturing.
