Continuous monitoring of sulphur recovery units (SRUs) has proven to be an excellent tool for energy optimisation and emissions reduction, yielding financial incentives in the form of CO2 credits and sustainability. Even in markets with limited CO2 credits, significant economic benefits can still be realised through reduction in utility consumption, as demonstrated by a recent collaboration between Worley Comprimo and PRefChem in Malaysia.
As I write this editorial, the 30th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change – aka COP-30 – is taking place in Brazil. It is fair to say that the attempt to try to restrict a large greenhouse gas-driven temperature rise across the planet has become one of the defining issues of our age, and particularly for an energy-intensive industry such as our own, responsible as it is for up to 2% of global carbon and carbon equivalent emissions. The move towards lower carbon intensity production of hydrogen, ammonia and methanol, via carbon dioxide capture and sequestration, gasification of biomass or waste, or electrolysis of water using renewable power, has come to dominate our news coverage, and in this issue we also carry articles on the state of play of both ‘blue’ and ‘green’ ammonia production, as well as technology for ‘cracking’ ammonia back to hydrogen and nitrogen for its potential use as a hydrogen carrier.
Sasol and Topsoe have signed a cooperation agreement with the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) and EPC contractor Griesemann for the construction, operation and research and development activities of DLR’s sustainable aviation fuels demonstration plant at the Leuna Chemical Complex, Germany. The demonstration plant is currently under construction and expects to produce 2500 t/a of e-fuels, starting in Q4 2027. The e-fuels produced will comprise mainly of kerosene, using renewable feedstocks such as biogenic CO2 and green hydrogen. With €130 million of funding secured from the German Federal Ministry for Transport, the plant will be the largest demonstration and research facility globally for the production of e-fuels.
NEXTCHEM (MAIRE), Mana and Equinor enter strategic partnership to explore the potential development of large-scale waste-to-methanol project
The past few years have seen a rapid increase in attempts to generate ammonia from streams of nitrate polluted wastewater, but how practical are these methods?
Yara signs minimum 10-year offtake agreement with ATOME for the purchase of ATOME's entire 260,000 tonne-per-year low-carbon fertilizer production at the Villeta Project in Paraguay
Casale is specialised in revamping natural gas-based methanol plants. Decarbonisation of methanol plants is a goal for many producers achievable with a proper revamping strategy. Pietro Moreo of Casale discusses how Casale’s innovative technologies and extensive experience ensure reliable efficient capacity and performance enhancements together with CO2 emissions reduction tailored to meet revamping project targets.
The production of methanol from waste offers a groundbreaking solution for sustainable urban waste management as well as producing an alternative renewable fuel for maritime transport. Giacomo Rispoli, Andrea Angeletti and Alessia Borgogna of Nextchem provide an overview of the waste conversion process and its application.
No longer viewed as only a chemical feedstock, methanol is increasingly being regarded as a low-carbon energy carrier. Zinovia Skoufa of Johnson Matthey discusses the role of sustainable methanol as a multi-pathway fuel for the energy transition.
By combining oxygen-blown Lurgi™ autothermal reforming (ATR) technology with Cryocap™ H2 carbon capture technology, Air Liquide offers an innovative plant configuration to meet the need for a central production facility offering flexible product diversification with hydrogen and ammonia at a scale that satisfies extensive decarbonisation targets.