Recent developments
Industrial carbon capture
Engineering moved to deployment in hard-to-abate sectors: Worley will deliver the UK's first full-scale CO2 capture at Heidelberg Materials' cement plant in Padeswood (800,000 t/yr, tied to HyNet storage). At Rotterdam, Shell and Linde launched an energy hub (e-hub) at their Pernis site to share power and compress CO₂ for Porthos. In China, Veolia is capturing and utilizing industrial flue gas, while Air Liquide will upgrade its Air Separation Unit in Yulin to electricity, materially cutting emissions.
Ammonia decarbonization plans
Low-emission ammonia advanced on multiple fronts. Air Products and Yara detailed the Louisiana Clean Energy Complex (95% CO₂ capture) and NEOM renewable ammonia offtake, with FIDs aimed by mid‑2026, while Yara and Air Products framed a 2026–2030 U.S. project portfolio under capital discipline. Supply optionality grows as OCI’s Beaumont New Ammonia project nears startup, amid portfolio reshaping including divestment of ammonia distribution assets.
Hydrogen and e-fuels
Electrolysis and synthetic fuels progressed. Topsoe’s Solid Oxide Electrolyzer Cell (SOEC) technology will supply an e‑SAF plant targeting 25 kt/yr with an 89% lifecycle reduction versus fossil jet. Downstream use cases broadened as Air Liquide and Hyundai expanded their strategic partnership to scale heavy‑duty transport fueling, storage, and refueling networks across key regions.
Renewables and grids
Renewable power enabling chemical offtake and grid access expanded. Ørsted’s Borkum Riffgrund 3 began power delivery backed by corporate power purchase agreements with BASF and Covestro, among others. RWE completed circular repowering of its Muel wind farm (99.82% material recovery). Grid readiness advanced with a €450 million loan to ORES for Wallonia’s distribution upgrades, while construction milestones continued at Iberdrola’s Windanker offshore wind farm.
Circular battery materials
European lithium supply and recycling saw concrete steps. The EIB backed an integrated lithium supply chain using geothermal brines (Vulcan, Upper Rhine), complemented by groundbreaking for a combined geothermal and lithium extraction plant in Landau delivering heat, power, and LiOH. Upstream recycling efficiency improved as Toray unveiled nanofiltration membrane technology achieving >95% lithium recovery from battery leachate.
Corporate programs and products
Supply-chain and product initiatives targeted measurable reductions. Brenntag received the German Sustainability Award for distribution decarbonization and emissions tracking. Holcim earned CDP 'A' rankings aligned with validated 1.5°C targets. BASF introduced Lupragen N 208 to cut VOC emissions from PU foams. UPM advanced bio-based chemicals with its new biorefinery in Leuna, targeting renewable materials for downstream decarbonization.