Recent developments
Hydrogen and e-fuels
Topsoe opened Europe’s largest Solid Oxide Electrolyzer Cell (SOEC) manufacturing facility in Denmark (500 MW initial, scalable to 10 GW), citing 20–30% efficiency gains that lower hydrogen costs and emissions. Its platform was also chosen for Forestal del Atlántico’s Triskelion e-methanol project in Spain, designed for 57,000 t/y e‑methanol while capturing ~78,000 t/y CO₂, integrating high‑temperature electrolysis with synthesis to mitigate storage and intermittency risks.
CCUS and clusters
The ports of Duisburg and Rotterdam agreed to enable cross‑border CO₂ export and CCUS services for hard‑to‑abate industry. In Norway, Equinor confirmed Northern Lights commenced CO₂ transport and storage operations, marking a commercial milestone. In Denmark, Ørsted signed a long‑term EPCM agreement with Worley including CCS initiatives. Uzbekistan advanced policy‑aligned capture options as NEXTCHEM and Uzkimyosanoat agreed to explore a CCUS project. The Port of Rotterdam reported higher renewable fuels throughput alongside rising LNG.
Circular feedstocks
SynPet’s recycling facility at the Port of Antwerp‑Bruges will process 250,000 t/y mixed plastic waste into circular naphtha and RNG via TCP®. ETH Zurich and BASF showed that co‑gasifying automotive shredder residues with biomass cuts >3 kg CO₂‑eq/kg vs. incineration (ETH Zurich, in collaboration with BASF). Toray unveiled recycling technology capable of decomposing carbon fiber reinforced plastics while retaining >95% tensile strength. Axens moved to acquire Ketjen's shares in Eurecat, expanding catalyst regeneration and metals recovery.
Low‑carbon power build‑out
The Damlaagte PV Facility began supplying Sasol Secunda Operations and Air Liquide’s oxygen site, part of a 900 MW renewables program. Poland’s Baltic Power completed the installation of two offshore substations toward a 1.2 GW wind farm. The EIB is providing €90 million to Teollisuuden Voima Oyj for nuclear upgrades at Olkiluoto. In Central Asia, project financing agreements for a solar power and battery energy storage project in Uzbekistan will deliver 1,000 MW PV and 1,336 MWh BESS.
Hydrogen for industry
OMV initiated the construction of a 140 MW green hydrogen electrolysis plant to decarbonize the Schwechat refinery. RWE proposed a hydrogen-compatible combined cycle power plant (850 MW) at Voerde, starting at ≥50% H₂. Air Liquide advanced projects including the 200 MW ELYgator electrolyzer in the Netherlands, while Linde underscored offerings in clean hydrogen production and carbon capture systems supporting process electrification and emissions reduction.
AI‑enabled decarbonization
ADNOC, Masdar, XRG, and Microsoft’s strategic agreement expands AI across operations and supports sustainable energy and data center growth. The ENACT Majlis gathered leaders on AI‑energy infrastructure needs. The Powering Possible report found 88% of leaders see AI as pivotal, with cybersecurity and data quality as key constraints. In manufacturing, Siemens and Capgemini expanded their strategic partnership to co‑develop AI‑native digital solutions targeting efficiency, quality, and sustainability outcomes.