Recent developments
Gas and LNG
In the United States, Technip Energies advanced a 9.5 Mtpa export project as Commonwealth LNG authorized long‑lead equipment orders, adopted modular trains, and signaled an FID target in Q1 2026, with orders to Baker Hughes, Honeywell, and Solar Turbines. In Norway, the Snøhvit Future project was delayed to 2029 with higher costs, while electrification of Hammerfest LNG is expected to cut 850,000 tCO2/yr. In Poland, ORLEN began output at the Różańsko natural gas field, supplying CHP plants and adding an 8 MW cogeneration unit at Dębno.
Green ammonia operations
Denmark commissioned the world’s first dynamic green ammonia plant in Ramme, integrating 50 MW solar and 12 MW wind to run without hydrogen storage. The 5,000 t/yr facility—developed by Skovgaard Energy, Topsoe, and Vestas and supported by DKK 81 million from EUDP—targets an estimated 9,600 tCO2/yr reduction and demonstrates flexible power‑to‑ammonia operation relevant to fuel, fertilizer, and industrial uses.
Low-energy bioprocessing
Toray Industries introduced immobilized-microorganism bioreactor technology claiming 80–90% lower energy use versus conventional high‑T/P conversions. An in‑house trial converted acrylonitrile at over 99.5% to organic acids (acrylic, propionic, acetic), with a sealed reactor design limiting volatile losses. The approach can be tailored via a ~500‑microbe library, and Toray plans technical verification and operational design toward commercialization.
Polyolefin consolidation
Mitsui Chemicals, Idemitsu Kosan, and Sumitomo Chemical agreed to integrate PP and LLDPE businesses into Prime Polymer Co., Ltd. via a two‑phase split, yielding ownership of Mitsui 52%, Idemitsu 28%, and Sumitomo 20%. The plan targets over ¥8 billion in annual cost reductions, improved import competitiveness, and development of environmentally oriented products, addressing oversupply and declining domestic demand in Japan’s polyolefin sector.