The European industry is hopeful that the recently launched ‘Fit for 55 Package’, an extensive legislative package that revises all EU climate and energy legislation, will enable the region to become an attractive destination for investments into climate-neutral and circular technologies. With this move, Europe aims to lead the global race to climate neutrality by 2050.

Under the Hybrit initiative, SSAB, LKAB and Vattenfall have produced the world’s first hydrogen-reduced sponge iron at a pilot plant in Luleå, Sweden. The technological breakthrough aims to eliminate carbon dioxide emissions from the steelmaking process.

The core discussion at the Water Action Platform webinar which was held on May 20, 2021 was around green hydrogen and how can the water industry use the clean energy. The webinar was hosted by Isle chairman Piers Clark and featured Dr. Jenifer Baxter, director for innovation and policy at Protium Green Solutions as well as showcased emerging hydrogen technologies from the UK and Australia.

Adnoc has entered into a joint study agreement with three Japanese companies – Inpex, Jera and Jogmec in order to explore hydrogen and blue ammonia production in the UAE. With this move, both the countries aim to enhance industrial cooperation and drive new opportunities in hydrogen, renewables, and climate change.

Air Products has plans to develop a new net-zero hydrogen energy complex in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The project is expected to capture over 95 % of the CO2 from the feedstock natural gas and store it safely under the earth.

With an aim to accelerate its electrolysis business, Haldor Topsoe has established a new organization which will focus exclusively on green hydrogen. Chokri Mousaoui has been appointed as Executive Vice President and head of the organization.

Under the new Guangdong Renewable Energy Trading Rules, BASF has entered into a deal with China Resources Power to purchase renewable electricity for its first plants at the Zhanjiang Verbund site in China.

At Achema Pulse, an exclusive interview was conducted with Dr. Klaus Schäfer, Chief Technology Officer at Covestro in Germany. The focus of the interaction revolved around the concept of a fully circular economy with zero emissions and how this vision can become a reality. Helena Carmen Felixberger was the presenter on behalf of Dechema.

Under a MOU, Exxon Mobil will be participating in the Acorn carbon capture and storage project (CCS) in Scotland which aims to capture and store 5-6 million tons of CO2 per year by 2030 from gas terminals. The oil and gas company has also joined the Neccus Carbon Capture Alliance which aims at reducing carbon emissions from industrial facilities in Scotland.

Preem's refinery in Lysekil, Sweden has begun to process 50,000 tons of pyrolysis oil which will be used as feedstock to produce renewable petrol. The company aims to produce approximately 5 million cubic meters of renewable fuels by 2030.