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Signing in CIC, Frankfurt. Stephan Eckle, Clariant, Ni Jianjun, Shanghai Electric - copyright Clariant

29 July 2025

Press Release: Clariant Catalysts and Shanghai Electric launch alliance to advance China’s energy transition

Clariant Catalysts’ Press Release: Munich, 29 July 2025

  • Shanghai Electric’s biomass-to-green methanol plant in China, started up successfully using Clariant´s MegaMax™ methanol synthesis catalysts
  • The project’s success has now evolved into a strategic cooperation agreement between Clariant and Shanghai Electric to foster China´s energy transition
  • Goal of the partnership is to facilitate and expand the production of green methanol, green ammonia, and sustainable aviation fuel in China

Clariant, a sustainability-focused specialty chemical company, today announced that it has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Shanghai Boiler Works, a full subsidiary of Shanghai Electric, specializing in energy conversion and the development of new energy applications, to jointly foster innovation in sustainable energy solutions. The partners will combine their expertise to advance green energy projects in China. The agreement is the result of close and successful cooperation in Shanghai Electric’s new biomass-to-green methanol plant in Taonan, Jilin Province, China. In addition to supplying its MegaMax catalysts, Clariant provided technical on-site support during the successful startup of the 50,000 tons/y plant. The second phase of the project, with a capacity of 200,000 tons/y green methanol and 10,000 tons/y SAF, is expected to start production in 2027. The ceremony for the official signing of the partnership contract took place last week at the Clariant Innovation Center in Frankfurt, Germany.

Georg Anfang, Vice President at Clariant, commented, “We are proud to add China’s first biomass to green methanol plant in Taonan to a strong series of facilities that are already producing green methanol with our high-performance MegaMax catalysts. As China is becoming one of the frontrunners in the energy transition, our strategic alliance with Shanghai Electric will further strengthen Clariant´s footprint as a key enabler to produce clean energy, chemicals, and fuels.”

Qiu Jiayou, Vice President at Shanghai Electric, added, “We are proud of the successful launch of our new project and are equally delighted about our strategic agreement with Clariant, a company which understands and shares our vision for the future. Our teams look forward to joining forces to develop exceptional, sustainable energy solutions for customers around the globe.”

Green methanol plant Taonan, China. © Shanghai Electric

Shanghai Electric is a global leader in industrial and energy solutions, specializing in power generation and transmission, intelligent manufacturing, and automation systems.

The company leverages cutting-edge technological innovations to empower industries and deliver sustainable value.

The strategic cooperation agreement will unite Shanghai Electric’s process competence and plant design capabilities with Clariant’s catalyst expertise. The scope of the agreement includes collaborative research and development, engineering design services, supply of chemical equipment, and turnkey solutions. Clariant will share its extensive knowledge and advanced catalysts for producing green methanol, e-methanol, green ammonia, and sustainable aviation fuel, as well as for gas purification.

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