As we move towards a climate-neutral future, great hopes are being pinned on hydrogen as a key element of the energy transition. The energy-rich molecule can be used for storage and can act as an ideal versatile chemical energy carrier. But how might the hydrogen economy of the future look like? What volumes are required and what infrastructure is suitable? This trend report provides answers to these questions.

Borealis has plans to invest 4.5-million-euros in the cracker furnaces of its olefins unit in Porvoo, Finland. With the help of the investment, three of the ten cracker furnaces in the unit will be modified to enable a total annual production of 120 kilotons of base chemicals based on renewable and recycled feedstocks.

Trillium Renewable Chemicals has chosen Ineos Nitriles’ Green Lake facility in Port Lavaca, Texas to develop the world’s first demonstration plant for converting plant-based glycerol into acrylonitrile. Named ‘Project Falcon’, the project is expected to commence operations in early 2025.

Evonik has expanded the manufacturing capacity of Tegosoft MM MB in China. The company’s Care Solutions organics plant, as a second site, will now be producing this product which will assist the firm to cater to the strong Asia Pacific market with ease.

Yarra Valley Water has partnered with Weltec Biopower to modernize its 1-megawatt biogas plant in Australia. The plant has a processing capacity of 33,000 tons of organic waste from food processors and restaurants to generate around 7,500,000 kilowatt hours of energy per year.

In collaboration with the U.S. Government, Evonik has plans to develop a new world-scale lipid production facility at the company’s Tippecanoe site in Lafayette, Indiana, USA for Mrna-based therapies.

With this acquisition, Maire has plans to expand its engineering capacity by adding a multidisciplinary team of around 290 experts in different fields, such as process, automation, mechanical, piping, electrical, and civil engineering.

Cost plays a vital role while developing industrial plants but by opting for a modular plant, capex costs, material costs and even labor costs can be slashed. Also, modular, skid-mounted units are developed in-doors under controlled environments and at speed which helps to save valuable time for industry players.

In June, Germany will once again be the centre of the chemical, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries worldwide: The 34th Achema will take place from 10 to 14 June 2024 in Frankfurt. The trade fair will be accompanied by a varied and extensive congress programme on all five days.

Located in Germany, Gascontec is an innovative company which specializes in technology development and process engineering. With this acquisition, Nextchem will strengthen its commercial offering in low-carbon, green and circular solutions.