Communicator

Tasked to delivery/contribute to sustainability targets of Oman. Subsidiary of Green Energy Oman.

#hydrogen #Sustainability 

Added company, as it operates as an investor in the industry, also renewable #Sustainability #hydrogen 

Project company, implementing renewable/sustainable energy companies.

#hydrogen #Sustainability 

EcoCeres manufactures green and renewable HVO using patented technology at a facility located in Jiangsu Province / Ecoceres

Under China's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), the government has set a target of consuming 50,000 tonnes of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) annually by 2025. Additionally, policymakers are exploring the implementation of a blending mandate for the aviation industry, which could require blending SAF at rates of 2% to 5%.

According to several sources, China's SAF industry is on track for significant growth, with total announced production capacity projected to reach 3.63 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) by the end of the decade. This expansion aligns with broader regional trends, as the Asia-Pacific region's SAF production capacity is expected to hit 3.5 million metric tons annually by the end of 2025.

Review of SAF Key Players and Capacities

Below is a list of some SAF operating production plants and projects in China:

OPERATING 

Sinopec Zhenhai Refining & Chemical Company

• Plant Location: Zhenhai District, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province
• Capacity: Currently produces 100,000 tpy HEFA-based SAF and renewable diesel at its Zhenhai refinery. Plans for expansion are underway.
• Technology: Uses Sinopec's proprietary SRJET biofuel production technology. The plant is Asia's first RSB-certified SAF production unit.
• Details: The biofuel plant been operational since May 2022; most of its output is exported internationally. It has also received airworthiness certification to supply biojet fuel to China's aviation market.

Junheng Industry Group Biotech 

• Plant Location: Puyang Industrial Park, Henan Province
• Capacity:  the company started producing SAF in December 2023 at a new 400,000 tpy plant, costing 1.3 billion yuan ($180 million). 
• Production: the company expects to produce 150,000 tonnes of SAF in 2024. 
• Feedstock: UCO and waste oils from municipal, agricultural, and forestry sources
• Achievements: First private enterprise in China to receive SAF airworthiness approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). Conducted successful engine tests using 100% SAF. SAF product obtained the EU ISCC bioenergy certification and is sold to European countries.

EcoCeres 

• Plant Location: Zhangjiagang , Jiangsu Province
• Technology: Proprietary technology. 
• Capacity: 100,000 tpy SAF / 200,000 tonnes renewable disel 
• Details: Operational since 2022; primarily exports its production to international markets. 

PROJECTS

Sinopec and TotalEnergies Joint Venture

• Plant Location: Sinopec refinery in China (specific location not disclosed)
• Capacity: Planned capacity of 230,000 tpy SAF
• Feedstock: Local waste or residues from the circular economy (e.g., UCO and animal fats)
• Technology & Partners: Will utilize Sinopec's SRJET technology combined with TotalEnergies' expertise in technical operations and distribution.
• Timeline & Details: This collaboration aligns with Sinopec's strategy for low-carbon solutions and TotalEnergies' goal of producing 1.5 million tons of SAF annually by 2030.

Tianzhou New Energy

• Plant Location: Weiyuan, Sichuan Province
• Capacity: 200,000 tonnes per year (tpy) SAF facility, with plans to expand to 500,000 tpy
• Feedstock: Used cooking oil (UCO)
• Timeline: Initially targeted late 2024 for start-up, now delayed to late 2025
• The facility will process 200,000 tpy of UCO into SAF, equivalent to about 4,300 barrels per day.

Zhejiang Jiaao Enprotech

• Plant Location: Lianyungang City, Jiangsu Province
• Capacity: 500,000 tpy SAF facility under construction
• BP acquired a 15% stake in the project for $49.56 million (354 million yuan)
• Feedstock: Waste cooking oil and other renewable resources processed using HEFA technology
• Details: One of the largest SAF plants in the region; expected to play a significant role in China's green aviation sector. 

Sichuan Jinshang Environmental Protection Tech

• Plant Location: Suining, Jintang County, Sichuan Province
• Planned capacity of 400,000 tpy SAF
• Timeline: Construction expected to begin by July 2025 and complete by the end of 2025
• Details: Partnering with Honeywell UOP to use Ecofining technology. 
• Feedstock: The plant will process renewable feedstocks like UCO and animal fats into SAF.

Shandong Haike Chemical

• Plant Location: Dongying City, Shandong Province
• Capacity: Retrofitting an existing refining unit to produce 500,000 tpy SAF using Axens’ Vegan technology
• Timeline: Expected completion by late 2025
• Details: The first application of Axens’ Vegan technology in Asia. The retrofit aims to produce high-quality SAF for domestic and international markets.

We will continue to update this list of SAF production plants in China and globally.

#biofuels #saf  #sustainability  #renewablefuels  #renewablediesel  #hefa  #sustainableaviationfuel  #hydrotreating  #usedcookingoil  #uco 

Ecoceres biofuel plant was added. The hydrotreating facility produces renewable diesel and SAF products based upon proprietary technology. 


#saf  #hefa  #sustainableaviationfuel  #biofuels  #renewablediesel  #sustainability 
 

Feb 2, 2024 / SGS - On January 20, 2024, Jun Heng Biotechnology’s sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) achieved a significant milestone as its sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) received airworthiness approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). This marks the first instance of a private refinery obtaining official airworthiness approval, enabling commercial use.

The Jun Heng Biotechnology is located in Puyang Industrial Park, Henan province. The company utilizes used cooking oil (UCO) or oil derived from municipal, agricultural and forestry waste as a feedstock for SAF. The company plans to enhance its SAF production capacity to 400,000 tonnes annually by 2025. It anticipates reaching a production volume of 137,000 tonnes in 2024.

In early January 2024, the company conducted SAF performance and functional tests on the auxiliary power unit batch, with all test results compliant with the National No.3 jet fuel standard, GB 6537-2018. Additionally, the company achieved the first successful engine test run using 100% SAF in China.

It's noteworthy that, as of now, the Chinese government has not implemented a specific SAF standard in the country. Therefore, all SAF applied to aircraft must adhere to the GB 6537-2018 standard.

#saf  #sustainableaviationfuel  #biofuels  #sustainability 

Axens' Vegan^® technology to produce renewable diesel (RD) and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) through the hydrotreatment of a wide range of vegetable oils and animal fats, including used cooking oil (UCO), has been added.


#vegan  #saf  #sustainableaviationfuel  #renewablediesel  #usedcookingoil  #uso  #axens #sustainability 

June 13, 2022 -- Zhenhai Refining and Chemical's 100,000 ton/year bio-jet fuel industrial production unit

The biofuel plant employing SRJET technology for the production of Sustaainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), started up in June 2022,  has been added to the Zhenhai Refinery.

#sinopec  #zhenhai  #china  #biofuels  #usedcookingoil  #sustainableaviationfuel  #saf  #jetfuel  #Sustainability 

Técnicas Reunidas / March 10, 2025 -- In a significant step toward Europe's energy transition goals, Técnicas Reunidas and Siemens Energy have been selected to carry out the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) for the La Robla Green project, set to become one of Europe's largest renewable methanol production facilities. The ambitious initiative is located in La Robla, a municipality in the province of León, Spain.

The project is spearheaded by Spanish company Reolum, which specializes in innovative energy transition solutions. The planned facility will produce 140,000 tons per year of green methanol (e-methanol) by combining renewable hydrogen with biogenic carbon captured from a biomass cogeneration plant. This approach ensures a sustainable production process with significantly reduced carbon emissions compared to conventional methanol production methods.

Green methanol is gaining prominence as a key alternative fuel for decarbonizing sectors with traditionally high emissions, such as maritime transport and aviation. It can be used directly as fuel or serve as feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), providing a crucial pathway toward achieving Europe's climate neutrality targets.

The La Robla Green project brings together the expertise of several global leaders in decarbonization technologies. Siemens Energy will lead the development of the renewable hydrogen unit, while Técnicas Reunidas will oversee biogenic carbon capture and e-methanol production units. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will provide advanced CO₂ capture technology, and Johnson Matthey will supply its proprietary eMERALD™ technology, enabling direct hydrogenation of captured CO₂ into methanol.

This collaborative effort aligns with Técnicas Reunidas' broader decarbonization strategy known as TRACK, aimed at accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy. The project recently received substantial financial backing from the Spanish government: €180 million from NextGenerationEU funds allocated by the Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge. This funding supports Spain's H2 Valles Program initiative to establish major renewable hydrogen clusters across various regions including Aragon, Andalusia, Castile and León, Catalonia, and Galicia.

With this investment and collaboration among industry leaders, La Robla Green positions itself as a landmark project in Europe's renewable energy landscape. It is expected to significantly contribute to regional economic growth while advancing Spain's leadership in green technologies and sustainable fuels.

#greenhydrogen  #emethanol  #sustainablefuels  #sustainableaviationfuel  #saf  #carboncapture  #co2capture  #sustainability 

LA ROBLA GREEN project site that will include a carbon-negative green biomass energy generation plant and an e-methanol plant produced by combining CO₂ extracted from the Roblum biomass power plant with green hydrogen.


#spain  #larobla  #reolum  #greenhydrogen  #emethanol  #biomassenergy  #co2extraction  #sustainability 

e-Methanol has been added.


#waterelectrolysis  #greenhydrogen  #sustainableco2  #carboncapture  #biogenicco2  #fuelcell  #hydrogen #sustainability 

CSPCL Huizhou Petrochemical Plant / Shell

Beijing, China, February 22, 2016 -- CNOOC and Shell Petrochemicals Company Limited (CSPC), a joint venture between Shell Nanhai B.V. and CNOOC Petrochemicals Investment Ltd., has officially announced the third phase of expansion for its petrochemical complex in Daya Bay, Huizhou, Guangdong Province. This ambitious project, valued at $6.7 billion, represents a significant step forward in meeting China's growing demand for petrochemical products.

The expansion will include the construction of a third ethane cracker with a planned capacity of 1.6 million tonnes per year (tpy) of ethylene, boosting the complex's total ethylene production capacity to 3.8 million tpy. Ethylene serves as a key building block for plastics and other essential chemical products. Alongside the cracker, the project will add 16 downstream derivatives units producing specialty chemicals including linear alpha olefins, Bisphenol-A (240,000 topy), polycarbonates (260,000 tpy), and diphenyl carbonate (220,000 tpy).

Linear alpha olefins are vital for manufacturing detergent alcohol and synthetic lubricants, while polycarbonates are used in impact-resistant plastics that can replace carbon-intensive steel. Carbonate solvents play a critical role in lithium-ion batteries, supporting the electric vehicle sector and energy storage solutions.

The new facilities aim to meet domestic demand across various industries, including agriculture, construction, healthcare, and consumer goods.

Scheduled for completion by 2028, the project incorporates innovative technologies to reduce environmental impact. CSPC plans to electrify compressor units and increase renewable energy usage to achieve a 20% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, aligning with China's carbon neutrality goals.

#sustainabilitygoals  #steamcracker  #ethanecracker  #ethylene  #cnooc  #cspc  #shell  #china  #huizhou  #guangdong  #sustainability  #linearalphaolefins  #lao  #polycarbonate  #electrification  #renewableenergy  #carbonemissions  #neutralitygoals 

TECHNOLOGIE ALREADY OPERATING

Coal Gasification
▪️Startup Date: August 2015 (Phase I), July 2021 (Phase II)
▪️Plant Capacity: Supports total methanol production of 2×1.8 million tons/year
▪️Technology Provider: Yanchang Petroleum (integrated proprietary technology)
▪️Feedstock: Coal
▪️Products: Synthesis gas (syngas)

Natural Gas Steam Reforming
▪️Startup Date: August 2015 (Phase I), July 2021 (Phase II)
▪️Capacity: Integrated into methanol production capacity
▪️Provider: Proprietary integrated technology by Yanchang Petroleum
▪️Feedstock: Natural gas
▪️Products: Synthesis gas (syngas)

Rectisol Gas Cleaning
▪️Startup Date: August 2015 (Phase I), July 2021 (Phase II)
▪️Capacity: Integrated into methanol production capacity
▪️Provider: Proprietary integrated technology
▪️Feedstock: Raw syngas from coal gasification and natural gas reforming
▪️Products: Purified syngas for methanol synthesis

Methanol Synthesis
▪️Startup Date: August 2015 (Phase I), July 2021 (Phase II)
▪️Capacity: 2×1.8 million tons/year
▪️Provider: Yanchang Petroleum proprietary integrated technology
▪️Feedstock: Purified syngas (coal-based and natural gas-based mixed syngas), DCC hydrogen-rich gas
▪️Products: MTO-grade Methanol

Methanol to Olefins (DMTO)
▪️Startup Date: August 2015 (Phase I), July 2021 (Phase II)
▪️Capacity: 2×600,000 tons/year
▪️Provider: Proprietary DMTO technology
▪️Feedstock: Methanol
▪️Products: Ethylene, Propylene

Residual Oil Catalytic Thermal Cracking (DCC)
▪️Startup Date: August 2015
▪️Capacity: 1.5 million tons/year
▪️Provider: Institute of Petroleum Technology (Double riser technology)
▪️Feedstock: Residual oil
▪️Products: Olefins, Naphtha, Light Diesel

Veba Combi Cracking (VCC) Plant
▪️Startup Date: Operational since 2015
▪️Capacity: 450,000 tons/year
▪️Provider: KBR/BP alliance
▪️Feedstock: FCC slurry oil and coal slurry
▪️Products Made: Naphtha, ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD)

Polyolefin Units
▪️6 sets of polyolefin units (operating or scheduled) totaling 1.9 million tons/year.
▪️High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE): 300,000 tons/year
▪️Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE):300,000 tons/year
▪️Polypropylene (PP): 600,000 tons/year

Near-zero Wastewater Discharge System
▪️First phase started July,20,2014; upgraded in October,2020.
▪️Capacity: Phase I initial design scale 876m³/h – 
Phase I expansion to 1300m³/h▪️Feedstock: Industrial wastewater, domestic sewage, rainwater
▪️Products Made: Recycled water, sodium sulfate salt, sodium chloride salt

TECHNOLOGIES CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION OR IN PROJECT PHASE

Naphtha and Light Diesel Comprehensive Utilization Project
▪️Estimated Startup Date: End of March,2024
▪️Plant Capacity: Naphtha hydrorefining unit – 250,000 tons/year, Light diesel hydrorefining unit – 200,000 tons/year, Olefin raw material refining unit – 250,000 tons/year, Heavy aromatics adsorption separation unit – 200,000 tons/year.
▪️Technology Provider: Heavy aromatics adsorption separation technology provided by CNOOC Tianjin Chemical Research and Design Institute Co., Ltd.
▪️Feedstock: Naphtha and light diesel produced as by-products from DCC unit.
▪️Products Made: Benzene, toluene, mixed xylenes, aromatics.

Low Density Polyethylene and Copolymer Plant
▪️Startup Date: License secured September 24, 2024.
▪️Capacity: 150,000 tons/year.
▪️Technology Provider: ECI Group
▪️Technology: Proprietary hybrid reactor high-pressure polymerization technology developed from ICI autoclave technology.
▪️Feedstock: Ethylene with co-monomers such as vinyl acetate (for EVA) and butyl acrylate (for EBA).
▪️Products Made: LDPE (packaging films, coatings), EVA (adhesives, solar encapsulants), and EBA (sealants, specialty applications).

Methanol Gasification Slag Comprehensive Utilization Project
(No explicit startup date provided)

MTBE Unit Low-temperature Heat Utilization Project
(In progress; no explicit startup date provided)

Coal Gasification Conversion Condensate Environmental Protection Comprehensive Management Project
(Currently in project/research stage; no specific startup date provided.)

Methane Conversion Air Preheater Upgrade Energy-saving Project
(Currently in project/research stage; no specific startup date provided.)

Photovoltaic Power Generation Project
(Currently in project/research stage; no specific startup date provided.)

Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) Demonstration Project
(Currently under development; no explicit startup date provided.)
▪️Plant Capacity: 360,000 tons/year CO₂ capture and storage
▪️Technology Provider: Proprietary CCUS technology developed by Yanchang Petroleum Group.
▪️Feedstock: CO₂ emissions from coal chemical enterprises.
▪️Products Made: Enhanced oil recovery through CO₂ flooding and underground storage.

ADDITIONAL RELEVANT TECHNOLOGIES MENTIONED BUT WITHOUT EXPLICIT OPERATIONAL STATUS OR DATES PROVIDED

These technologies are mentioned as part of the company's comprehensive utilization strategy or future plans without clear operational status or startup dates explicitly indicated:

C₄ Mix to Olefin Conversion Unit (OCU) (mentioned implicitly as part of the olefin downstream processing chain)

C₅ Mix Recycling (implied as part of comprehensive utilization but not explicitly detailed with dates or capacities.)

Coal-Methane Co-gasification Technology (mentioned as a future planned project without explicit details on dates or capacities.)

Propane and Isobutane Dehydrogenation for Acrylic Acid and Esters Production (mentioned as planned projects without explicit details on dates or capacities.)


#coaltoolefins  #gasification  #methanol  #dmto  #methanoltoolefins  #dcc  #fcc  #catalyticcracking  #vcc  #vebacombicracking  #polyolefins  #netzero  #mtbe  #sustainability  #ccus  #ocu  #olefinconversionunit 

Vienna, Austria / Abu Dhabi, UAE — March 4, 2025

In a landmark move reshaping the global petrochemicals industry, Austria’s OMV and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) have unveiled plans to merge their chemical subsidiaries, Borouge and Borealis, into a new entity named Borouge Group International. This new company will then acquire Nova Chemicals, a leading North American polyethylene producer, for $13.4 billion, including debt. The combined enterprise, valued at over $60 billion, is poised to become one of the world’s largest polyolefins producers, with a production capacity of approximately 13.6 million tons per year. The transaction, expected to close in the first quarter of 2026 pending regulatory approvals, underscores both companies’ ambitions to expand their global chemicals footprint.

The deal involves two key steps.
First, OMV, which owns 75% of Borealis, and ADNOC, holding 54% of Borouge, will consolidate their shareholdings into Borouge Group International. Each company will own approximately 46.94% of the new entity, with the remaining 6.12% offered as free-float shares to Borouge’s existing shareholders. To balance the ownership, OMV will contribute €1.6 billion (about $1.7 billion) in cash, subject to adjustments based on dividends paid before the deal closes.
Second, Borouge Group International will acquire Nova Chemicals from Mubadala Investment Company, an Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund, for an enterprise value of $13.4 billion. The equity value of the deal is reported at $9.377 billion, with the remainder comprising assumed debt. Nova Chemicals, based in Canada, operates four production sites in the Sarnia area, boasting a capacity of 2.6 million tons of polyethylene and 4.2 million tons of ethylene annually. The resulting company will combine Borouge’s dominance in the Middle East and Asia, Borealis’ leadership in Europe, and Nova Chemicals’ strong foothold in North America, creating a truly global player in the polyolefins market.

The formation of Borouge Group International and its acquisition of Nova Chemicals promise to reshape the industry. The merger unites Borouge’s access to competitive feedstock from ADNOC, Borealis’ European market expertise, and Nova Chemicals’ North American operations, bolstered by shale gas-based resources. This geographical diversity strengthens the company’s ability to serve customers worldwide. With an estimated $500 million in annual cost synergies, the new entity will optimize production, share cutting-edge technologies, and leverage combined market access. The company aims to rank as the fourth-largest polyolefins producer globally, enhancing its competitiveness. Sustainability is also a key focus, with all three companies—Borouge, Borealis, and Nova Chemicals—bringing expertise in recycling technologies and sustainable products. Borouge Group International is positioned to lead in the circular economy, targeting net-zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2050.

Borouge Group International will be headquartered in Vienna, Austria, with a regional base in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and additional hubs in Calgary, Pittsburgh, and Singapore. The company will be listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), with potential plans for a secondary listing in Vienna. Existing Borouge shareholders will exchange their shares for stakes in the new entity, with promises of dividend growth. The acquisition of Nova Chemicals will be funded through debt, which the company plans to refinance in the capital markets post-closing, reflecting confidence in its long-term financial stability backed by ADNOC and OMV.

#abudhabi  #omv  #novachemicals  #borouge  #borealis  #merger  #ethylene  #polyethylene  #recycling  #sustainability  #circulareconomy #netzero #shalegas  #mubadala 

 The new SAF – Sustainable Aviation Fuel and biodiesel unit is one of Galp’s decarbonisation projects.

·       Weighing a combined 500 tons, the three reactors were unloaded this week
at Terminal XXI of the Port of Sines and arrived yesterday at the Refinery.

Source: Galp Website

#Sustainability 

The description of Holborn refinery has been updated, which includes a Process Flow Diagram.

#holborn  #refinery  #germany #hamburg  #sustainability  #co2emissions  #carbonemissions  

The description of the Raffinerie Heide's Hemmingstedt refinery has been updated.


#sustainability  #greenhydrogen  #hydrogenstorage  #emethanol  #cleanfuels  #electrolysis  #westkuste100  #emissions  #co2emissions 

A detailed description of Project ONE is now provided, which includes details about location,  logistics and mobility. ethane cracker technology, and utilities.
 

#co2emissions #emissions  #carbonfootprint  #sustainability  #ethane  #gascracker  #technip  #ineos  #antwerp  #belgium  #pipeline 

Dutch TTF Gas March 25 (TGH25) Price Chart (€/MWh)

Yara's Hull Plant Mothballing Highlights Europe's Ongoing Energy Challenges

The recent announcement (on 7 February 2025) of Yara International's decision to mothball its Hull ammonia plant in the UK, which has an annual capacity of 300,000 metric tons represents a striking example of how Europe's energy crisis continues to impact industrial production.

This decision is part of a broader strategy to reduce European ammonia production by 1 million metric tons due to high natural gas feedstock costs and the impact of European carbon policies.

The Hull plant closure, likely permanent, reflects the challenges faced by energy-intensive industries in Europe, where elevated energy prices and regulatory pressures have significantly eroded competitiveness.

The Natural Gas-Fertilizer Connection

Fertilizer production, particularly nitrogen-based fertilizers, is
inextricably linked to natural gas prices. Natural gas serves not only as an energy source but also as a key raw material in the production process. Through the Haber-Bosch process, natural gas (methane) is converted into hydrogen, which then combines with nitrogen from the air to produce ammonia – the building block of nitrogen fertilizers.

When natural gas prices surge, fertilizer production costs increase dramatically, as gas can represent up to 80% of the production costs for nitrogen fertilizers. This direct relationship makes fertilizer plants particularly vulnerable to gas price volatility.

The Chain of Events: Europe's Energy Market Transformation

The current situation stems from a series of significant changes in Europe's energy landscape:

Europe took the decisive step of sanctioning gas imports from Russia altogether, forcing a dramatic restructuring of its energy supply chains. This led to a rushed transition toward liquefied natural gas (LNG) from distant suppliers like the United States and Qatar. However, LNG proves significantly more expensive than pipeline gas due to the complex processes of liquefaction, oceanic transport, storage and regasification.

Germany's decision to accelerate the dismantling of its nuclear power plants set an early precedent for increased gas dependency in Europe's largest economy. This shift put additional pressure on the continent's gas supplies and grid stability.

The situation intensified when the Baltic states decided to cut
themselves off from the Russian power grid on 9 February 2025, leading to significant spikes in regional electricity prices. This was preceded by Ukraine's decision to halt gas transit through its territory on 1 January 2025, which had been a crucial pipeline route for Russian gas reaching European markets.

New U.K. Tax Rates Are Hammering North Sea Oil And Gas Drilling

In the UK, the situation intensified in October when the UK government raised the Energy Profits Levy (EPL), commonly known as the windfall tax, from 35% to 38%. The United Kingdom currently imposes one of the world's highest tax burdens on offshore oil and gas production, with operators in the North Sea facing a total tax rate of 78% resulting from the combination of standard taxation and the EPL.

The policy has created a challenging environment for the UK's domestic energy production, Britain now paying the highest electricity prices in the World.

Norway's Gas Threat: A New Risk to Europe's Energy Security

Norway, a critical supplier of natural gas to Europe, has recently hinted at potential disruptions to its energy exports due to domestic and geopolitical pressures. Currently providing nearly half of Germany's gas supply, Norway has become indispensable for European energy security following the decline of Russian gas imports.

However, soaring electricity prices in Norway—six times the EU average—have sparked domestic backlash, with political parties advocating for reduced energy exports to prioritize national affordability. Additionally, technical failures, such as the January 2025 shutdown of Norway's Hammerfest LNG plant, have already tightened Europe's strained energy supply.

These developments highlight Europe’s vulnerability to disruptions in Norwegian gas flows, further exacerbating its ongoing energy crisis.

European Decarbonization Policies

Both the EU and the UK are undergoing significant transformations in their energy landscapes as part of ambitious decarbonization policies aimed at achieving net zero emissions by 2050. The EU’s European Green Deal and legally binding Climate Law, alongside the UK’s Clean Power 2030 Action Plan and Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), have driven renewable energy adoption and reduced reliance on fossil fuels.

The measures have significantly impacted energy prices across Europe. Investments in green technologies, carbon pricing, and restrictions on fossil fuel use have increased costs for industries and households alike.

In the UK, phasing out coal power and limiting new oil and gas licenses have heightened dependency on renewables and imported energy, raising concerns about energy security.

Deindustrialization in Europe: The Impact of Surging Energy and Gas Prices

These rising costs are placing heavy financial pressure on energy-intensive industries across Europe and the UK, accelerating trends of deindustrialization, exacerbated by geopolitical tensions, net zero energy policy decisions, and the reduction of Russian gas supplies.

Energy-intensive industries, such as chemicals, steel, and aluminum, have been particularly affected, with many companies curbing production or relocating to regions with lower energy costs like the U.S. or Asia. Yara's decision to close its Hull ammonia plant is only the latest in a long list of industrial failures across Europe.

#naturalgas  #deindustrialization  #europe  #fertilizer  #ammonia  #lng #ttf

Beatriz Santos | 22/01/2025 | Sustainable Plastics

The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) saw publication in the Official Journal of the European Union on Jan. 22, 2025.

The legislation will officially come into force on Feb. 11, 2025. EU regulations become binding upon publication on the Official Journal. All member states are required to comply with the regulation.

The PPWR will apply from August 12, 2026, 18 months after the regulation comes into force.

The European Parliament approved the final PPWR text in November 2024. The document is available in all EU languages.

The EU Parliament had approved a preliminary version of the legislation on April 24, 2024, with 476 votes in favour, 129 against, and 24 abstentions. That version of the text only included a version in English and hadn’t undergone the required legal-linguistic review.

The PPWR includes packaging reduction targets (5% by 2030, 10% by 2035 and 15% by 2040) and require EU countries to reduce, in particular, the amount of plastic packaging waste.

Under the new rules, all packaging, except for lightweight wood, cork, textile, rubber, ceramic, porcelain and wax, will have to be recyclable by fulfilling strict criteria. It introduces, as of 2030, a recyclability performance grade scale from A to C stating the extent to which packaging is considered recyclable, being 95% grade A, 80% grade B, and 70% grade C. 

The legislation includes provisions on recycling targets of 50% for plastic packaging by 2025 and 55% by 2030 and foresees recycled content targets for all types of plastic packaging, with the most demanding ones set for 2040 – including 65% recycled content for SUP beverage bottles, 50% for PET contact-sensitive packaging, and 65% for other packaging.

By 2029, 90% of single use plastic and metal beverage containers up to three litres will have to be collected separately, via deposit-return systems or other solutions that ensure the collection target is met.

Throughout the two long years after the first draft PPWR was introduced, the text has generated a lot of controversy. Some industry groups claim the legislation lacks ‘material neutrality’ by singling-out plastics, whilst others argue that secondary legislation will be required to make it work.


#recycling  #plasticrecycling  #plasticwaste  #plasticpackaging #sustainability 

SAF plant at the Gela biorefienry

Gela (CL, Italy), 23rd Jan 2024, eni press release

Enilive announces the commissioning of its first plant to produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) at the Gela biorefinery, in Sicily.

Production has started at the plant, which has a capacity of 400,000 tonnes per year, representing almost a third of the expected European SAF demand in 2025, following the implementation of the ReFuelEU Aviation regulation. Regulation (EU) 2023/2405 requires aviation fuel providers to ensure that jet fuel supplied to aircraft operators at each airport in the European Union contains a proportion of SAF. The required proportion of SAF will increase over five year increments from a minimum 2% from 1 January 2025 to 6% from 2030, 20% from 2035, 34% from 2040, 42 % from 2045, until reaching 70% from 2050.

Since September 2022, Enilive has signed agreements with several airlines for the supply of SAF, thanks to the initial production achieved through synergies between the Gela Enilive biorefinery and other Eni facilities, using waste-based feedstocks. Enilive aims to increase its biorefining capacity to over 5 million tonnes per year by 2030 and enhance its optionality for SAF production to 1 million tonnes per year by 2026, with further potential to double production by 2030. These targets will be supported by ongoing projects at the Venice biorefinery and the construction of new biorefineries in Malaysia and South Korea.

The Gela biorefinery has the capacity to process 736,000 tonnes of biomass per year, which is primarily derived from waste and residual feedstocks such as used cooking oils, animal fat and by-products from vegetable oil processing. The innovative SAF production in Gela has been made possible by plant modifications, in particular to the isomerisation unit, which has been equipped with a reactor and a product separation section, as well as upgrades to the tank farm and logistics infrastructure. Investments to improve the feedstock pretreatment section, including the construction of a third degumming line, are nearing completion. These improvements will further enable the diversification of waste and residues feedstocks that can be converted into HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) biofuels.
 

#saf  #sustainableaviationfuel  #biofuel  #biorefinery  #hefa  #hydrotreatedvegetableoils  #biodiesel  #italy  #gela  #eni  #enilive #sustainability 

The description of the ENI | UOP Ecofining process has been updated.


#eni  #uop  #ecofining  #saf  #biofuels  #biodiesel  #sustainableaviationfuel  #hefa #sustainability 

Troll C

Date: February 9, 2025

Norwegian energy giant Equinor has announced a significant shift in its energy strategy, halving its planned investments in renewable energy over the next two years while ramping up oil and gas production.

The company will reduce its renewable energy spending to $5 billion, down from the $10 billion it previously committed, citing rising costs and slower-than-expected progress in low-carbon projects.

Equinor has also revised its 2030 renewable capacity target to 10-12 GW, a reduction from the earlier goal of 12-16 GW. This adjustment comes as the company focuses on "value creation" and shareholder returns.

CEO Anders Opedal emphasized that the decision aligns with market realities, noting that profitability in renewables has not met expectations. Despite these changes, Equinor maintains its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

It plans to continue investing in carbon capture and storage (CCS) and hydrogen technologies while reducing emissions from its oil and gas operations. However, the company will now prioritize increasing oil and gas output by 10% through 2027, leveraging its assets on the Norwegian continental shelf and other key projects like the Johan Sverdrup oil field to produce 2.2mn barrels of oil equivalent per day by 2030.

This strategic pivot reflects broader industry trends as major energy companies, including BP and Shell, scale back renewable ambitions amid economic pressures and geopolitical uncertainties.

While Equinor's move is expected to bolster cash flow and shareholder value, it raises questions about the pace of the global energy transition and the challenges of balancing profitability with sustainability goals.

#energytransition  #renewableenergy  #oilandgas  #equinor  #hydrogen #carbonecapture  #ccs  #greenhydrogen #Sustainability 

Go to Solutions

#Sustainability #hydrogen  #refining 

Vattenfall and BASF sign purchase agreement for 49 percent of Germany’s Nordlicht offshore wind farms. 

Joint Press Release

BASF investing in wind farms for powering the energy transition in Ludwigshafen. (Steam Cracker project with SABIC).

#Sustainability 

Renewable Fuels Distributor and Producer company created

Taylor , Scott 

#Sustainability 

#Sustainability 

Created ultimate parent of Greenergy UK.

Investing in Fawley announcement | ExxonMobil at Fawley

Exxon increasing low-sulphur diesel production at Refinery. Looking to reduce emissions in "hard to decarbonise sectors as air-travel."

Will be interesting to see how this can contribute to the production of sustainable aviation fuel, as stated. 

#Sustainability 

This investment is certainly welcome news for UK-Refining, after the PetroIneos annoucement to close the Grangemouth refinery.

Created SYNOVA Technology company. The company is entering into a collaboration with SABIC and Technip. We will follow up on the project.

#Sustainability 

Article in Seattle Times

Article describing BPs plans to convert to production of lower carbon aviation fuels by 2028.

ppPLUS is assigning a⭐ Sustainability Indicator.

#Sustainability