Recent developments
SAF and renewable fuels
Petrobras selected Topsoe’s HydroFlex technology for a potential 1 Mt/y SAF and renewable diesel project in Brazil; Siemens and CAPHENIA will industrialize plasma conversion of biomethane to syngas; thyssenkrupp Uhde will study integrating PRENFLO gasification with methanol synthesis in Nova Scotia; Eni confirmed biorefining investment in Sannazzaro de’ Burgondi; and Clariant and Vertimass will scale zeolite catalysts for alcohol‑to‑fuel CADO conversion.
Circular industrial heat
RIFT secured €113.8 million, including EU Innovation Fund support, to commercialize its iron fuel system. The first plant will supply Iron Fuel Boilers, targeting ~340 GWh/year of industrial heat and >1 Mt CO2 avoided over 15 years, with initial supply to Kingspan Unidek.
Circular plastics and additives
PureCycle produced 7.5 million pounds of PureFive recycled polypropylene in Q4 and advanced Thailand and Antwerp projects. BASF introduced biomass balance Autofroth polyurethane systems for North America, and Clariant gained EU approval for rice bran wax in food‑contact plastics, enabling PET, PLA and rigid PVC uses.
Recycling and materials
Aurubis commissioned a new air separation unit at its Lünen recycling site, reducing ~3,000 annual truck deliveries and up to 8,500 t/y CO2. UBE invested in CheomdanLab, which upcycles silicon waste via SRBSN into silicon nitride powders and ceramic balls for EV and energy applications. Veolia secured UK municipal contracts and is building the largest plastics recycling facility in Shropshire.
CCUS and supply chains
Air Liquide and Holcim agreed to capture 1.1 Mt/y CO2 at Obourg cement, while Samsung C&T and Axens will deploy CCUS projects using the DMX process. The EIB and the Government of Canada signed a Letter of Intent on critical raw materials, and ZILS – Sines Industrial and Logistics Zone reported >€20 billion in projects.