Chemical Industry News, Data & Insights

Alternative Fuels

Innovations in sustainable fuel sources, including sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), green methanol, e-fuels, renewable diesel, biogas, and biomethane, aimed at reducing carbon emissions in transportation and industry.

Recent developments

Maritime bio-LNG uptake

European maritime operators trialed biomethane-derived LNG at scale: TT-Line’s Peter Pan bunkered 40 t from EnviTec Biogas’ BioEnergie Park Güstrow, aligning with FuelEU Maritime requirements amid IMO policy uncertainty. In shipping finance, Gunvor Group secured a sustainability-linked, multi-currency revolving credit facility tying KPIs to fleet efficiency and Scope 1–3 reductions.

SAF and HVO build-out

Large platforms advanced: NXTClean Fuels selected Topsoe for a 50,000 bpd Oregon SAF/renewable diesel project integrating HydroFlex, SynCOR and H2bridge. In Asia, Pengerang Biorefinery Sdn. Bhd. moved into development for a 650,000 t/y feedstock biorefinery producing SAF, HVO and bio-naphtha. In the UK, Project Speedbird entered FEED to convert second‑generation ethanol to SAF. EU policy targets 20 Mt sustainable fuels by 2035 via the Sustainable Transport Investment Plan.

Methanol supply expands

Pathways diversified. The Ecoplanta project in El Morell will convert 400,000 t/y MSW to renewable methanol using Enerkem gasification and Clariant catalysts. Pacifico Mexinol Project secured a 1 Mt/y offtake with MGC from a 2.15 Mt/y ultra‑low‑carbon methanol facility starting 2029. Downstream adoption continued as SABIC executed its first low-carbon methanol deal.

Feedstocks and co-processing

EU funding supported Neste’s SCOOP project to co‑process crude tall oil at Porvoo into advanced fuels and chemical feedstocks. Neste also highlighted expanded SAF and renewable outputs at its Singapore refinery, now part of a 2.6 Mt/y renewable products system. At distributed scale, EnviTec Biogas and First Quezon Biogas Corporation advanced a 1.4 MW poultry‑waste plant in the Philippines.

Electrified heat and tech

Adani Cement and Coolbrook will deploy a commercial RotoDynamic Heater to electrify calcination with renewable power, targeting significant CO₂ cuts. In refining and energy, Chevron is focusing on renewable fuels, hydrogen, CCUS, and lithium businesses alongside a large-scale power project. Technology supply chains strengthened as Technip Energies completed the acquisition of Ecovyst’s Advanced Materials & Catalysts business.

Policy and capital flows

The EU tabled a new Nationally Determined Contribution (66.25–72.5% cut by 2035) and reported industry declines under the Emissions Trading System (ETS), while advancing synthetic fuel offtake via the eSAF Early Movers Coalition. Capital alignment included ORLEN VC invested in Energy Impact Partners and Statkraft moves to divest assets worth NOK 13.5 billion to refocus on prioritized technologies.

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