| Summary: | Abstract Climate change and global warming are currently widely discussed topics, both of which potentially impact all the nations and industries. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other green house gases (GHG) are seen as a major challenge. This doctoral dissertation aims to conduct techno-economic calculations on the possibilities of reducing the industrial use of fossil raw materials in Northern Finland. This doctoral dissertation analyses industrial CO₂ emissions from five complementary perspectives: identifying significant potential industrial plants, analysing the replacement of fossil raw materials with wood biomass, considering combining different industrial sectors, the potential of biogas as industrial raw material, and estimating the economic significance of moisture in wood fuel. The study started by analysing all the relevant 262 regional environmental permits to find the significant industrial users of synthesis gas in the studied region. Processes used by each identified case were analysed carefully to identify the most potential change possibilities. Economic calculations were conducted for these cases using true production volumes. The aim was to reach solutions that were economically sound. Five industrial sites were identified as potential cases for replacing raw materials of synthesis gas or hydrogen with renewable alternatives. These sites include the Rautaruukki steel mill, Eka Chemicals’ hydrochloric acid plant, Kemira’s formic acid plant, Kemira’s hydrogen peroxide producing plant, and Talvivaara mining’s hydrogen plant. The main implications of this dissertation include providing tips for industrial managers, regional decision makers and legislators. Managers of companies with high energy consumption and/or high usage of fossil raw materials in their products can benefit from the results of this dissertation the most. Managers should conduct similar calculations, as in this study, by using exact figures relevant to their processes and raw materials. This doctoral dissertation also suggests ...
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