Technology

PLACEHOLDER FOR TECHNIP ENERGIES HUMMINGBIRD TECHNOLOGY

Hummingbird^® (2013): a proprietary ethanol-to-ethylene dehydration technology originally developed by BP Chemicals and unveiled in 2013, subsequently acquired by Technip (now TechnipEnergies) in June 2016. The technology employs a proprietary heteropolyacid (HPA) supported catalyst that operates at lower temperatures and higher pressures than conventional alumina-based processes, achieving ultra-high selectivity of over 99% for converting bioethanol to polymer-grade ethylene. Hummingbird^® distinguishes itself through its nearly stoichiometric conversion efficiency that eliminates the need for ethylene fractionation columns, reducing capital costs and process complexity. The technology achieved its first commercial application in 2020 when LanzaTech selected Hummingbird^® for integration with its Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) process at the LanzaJet Freedom Pines biorefinery in Soperton, Georgia, producing 10 million gallons per year of sustainable aviation fuel starting in 2022, with the demonstration plant accumulating over 36,000 hours of operation. TechnipEnergies continues to license Hummingbird^® technology and supply its proprietary catalyst for commercial applications targeting sustainable aviation fuel and bio-based chemicals production.

References

1. Tullo A.H. (Nov 25, 2013). BP Recommits To Chemicals. C&EN
2. (Jun 15, 2016). Technip acquires Hummingbird technology from BP Chemicals. Fibre2Fashion
3. (Accessed: Dec 12, 2025). Hummingbird^® ethanol-to-ethylene technology. Technip Energies
4. (Jun 2024). Hummingbird ethanol-to-ethylene technology case study. Technip Energies
5. (Nov 2023). Hummingbird Flysheet. Technip Energies
6. (Jul 17, 2020). TechnipFMC’s Hummingbird® Ethylene Technology Selected by LanzaTech for LanzaJet Sustainable Aviation Fuel Biorefinery. TechnipFMC
7. Press Release (Dec 5, 2021). Technip Energies announces first Hummingbird® catalyst supply agreement for LanzaJet biorefinery. LANZAJET