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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--Initial funding has been agreed for Europe's first advanced waste-to-methanol plant in Rotterdam, Netherlands, which will convert waste materials into methanol.
Located within the Botlek area of the Port of Rotterdam, the facility will be the first in Europe to provide an alternative solution for non-recyclable wastes, converting waste plastics and other mixed wastes into new raw materials. The 150 million-euro ($186 million) project is being developed by AkzoNobel (AS:AKZO) (Amsterdam, Netherlands), Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions Incorporated (Houston, Texas), Port of Rotterdam and Enerkem Incorporated (Montreal, Quebec).
It will use Enerkem's technology to convert non-recyclable mixed waste, including plastics, into syngas and then into clean methanol for use in the chemical and transportation sectors. The plant will have two production lines, or twice the input capacity of Enerkem's commercial-scale plant in Edmonton, Alberta. It will convert up to 360,000 tons of waste into 220,000 tons (270 million litres) of 'green' methanol. This represents the total annual waste of more than 700,000 households and will result in CO2 emission savings of about 300,000 tonnes.
"This is an important milestone for the project and a significant step toward implementing a sustainable and circular chemical industry," said Marco Waas, director of RD&I at AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals, who leads the consortium's Steering Committee. "The agreement comes at a very appropriate time given the current challenges in plastics recycling in Europe. We can convert non-recyclable waste into methanol, an essential raw material for many everyday products, including low-carbon transportation fuel. Not only can this be used in the existing supply chains and replace fossil sources, but it also avoids CO2 emissions otherwise produced by burning waste."
The initial investment will cover detailed engineering, the setup up of a dedicated joint venture and completing the permitting process. The final investment decision (FID) for the project will be made later this year.
Peter Nieuwenhuizen, chief technology officer for AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals, said, "We have made vital progress in the past months. The partners have agreed to their contributions and roles, we are very pleased with the collaboration with the Dutch government and we welcome Rabobank on board as a financing partner. We can now go full steam ahead towards a final investment decision later this year."
Last year, Industrial Info reported that production had started at Enerkem's long awaited commercial-scale waste-to-biofuels facility in Edmonton. For additional information, see September 20, 2017, article--Enerkem Starts Production at Commercial-Scale Waste-to-Biofuels Facility in Alberta.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Our European headquarters are located in Galway, Ireland. Follow IIR Europe on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn For more information on our European coverage send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.eu or visit us online at Industrial Info Europe.
Located within the Botlek area of the Port of Rotterdam, the facility will be the first in Europe to provide an alternative solution for non-recyclable wastes, converting waste plastics and other mixed wastes into new raw materials. The 150 million-euro ($186 million) project is being developed by AkzoNobel (AS:AKZO) (Amsterdam, Netherlands), Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions Incorporated (Houston, Texas), Port of Rotterdam and Enerkem Incorporated (Montreal, Quebec).
It will use Enerkem's technology to convert non-recyclable mixed waste, including plastics, into syngas and then into clean methanol for use in the chemical and transportation sectors. The plant will have two production lines, or twice the input capacity of Enerkem's commercial-scale plant in Edmonton, Alberta. It will convert up to 360,000 tons of waste into 220,000 tons (270 million litres) of 'green' methanol. This represents the total annual waste of more than 700,000 households and will result in CO2 emission savings of about 300,000 tonnes.
"This is an important milestone for the project and a significant step toward implementing a sustainable and circular chemical industry," said Marco Waas, director of RD&I at AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals, who leads the consortium's Steering Committee. "The agreement comes at a very appropriate time given the current challenges in plastics recycling in Europe. We can convert non-recyclable waste into methanol, an essential raw material for many everyday products, including low-carbon transportation fuel. Not only can this be used in the existing supply chains and replace fossil sources, but it also avoids CO2 emissions otherwise produced by burning waste."
The initial investment will cover detailed engineering, the setup up of a dedicated joint venture and completing the permitting process. The final investment decision (FID) for the project will be made later this year.
Peter Nieuwenhuizen, chief technology officer for AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals, said, "We have made vital progress in the past months. The partners have agreed to their contributions and roles, we are very pleased with the collaboration with the Dutch government and we welcome Rabobank on board as a financing partner. We can now go full steam ahead towards a final investment decision later this year."
Last year, Industrial Info reported that production had started at Enerkem's long awaited commercial-scale waste-to-biofuels facility in Edmonton. For additional information, see September 20, 2017, article--Enerkem Starts Production at Commercial-Scale Waste-to-Biofuels Facility in Alberta.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Our European headquarters are located in Galway, Ireland. Follow IIR Europe on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn For more information on our European coverage send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.eu or visit us online at Industrial Info Europe.
