Recent developments
Process decarbonization moves
Industrial heat and finishing shifted toward lower-carbon operations. Funding for RIFT's Iron Fuel Technology targets commercial metal-fuel heat supply by 2029. PPG is piloting laser-based powder curing with IPG Photonics and Whirlpool to cut curing energy and time. At Aurubis, an on-site ASU at Lünen reduces trucking and emissions via the high‑purity oxygen plant. Portfolio enablers included volume gains in Clariant’s Catalysts and Covestro’s Nitric Acid Unit Climate Initiative, while a QEMETICA–Łukasiewicz partnership targets high‑temperature and energy‑efficient process innovations.
CCUS in hard-to-abate
Carbon capture progressed in cement and EfW. Air Liquide and Holcim plan 1.1 Mtpa capture at Obourg with Cryocap OXY and pipeline export to Antwerp@C. Heidelberg Materials’ evoZero near‑zero cement deliveries and Padeswood CCS construction continued. A Samsung C&T–Axens MoU brings the DMX post‑combustion process to projects globally. Indaver’s acquisition of the Medway Energy Centre positions EfW for coastal CCUS links. A DNV report on OCCS outlined regulatory needs for an Asia–North Europe CO₂ corridor following the first Rotterdam shipboard CO₂ offload.
Hydrogen and e‑fuels
Hydrogen transport and synthetic fuel projects advanced. Worley will deliver the Danish Hydrogen Backbone Phase 1, converting gas lines for H₂ by 2030. Power2X acquired HyCC to scale green hydrogen, via the sale of HyCC to Power2X. Uhde will study integration of gasification and methanol synthesis for a biomass‑to‑methanol project in Nova Scotia. Siemens will industrialize CAPHENIA's Plasma Boudouard Reactor for efficient syngas. Topsoe’s HydroFlex will equip a Petrobras SAF/renewable diesel project, and Eni confirmed the Sannazzaro de’ Burgondi biorefinery.
Power and materials enablers
Grid flexibility and supply chains saw investment. TotalEnergies and AllianzGI agreed on 11 battery storage projects in Germany (789 MW), while Statkraft’s PPA for two large‑scale BESS in Finland adds Nordic balancing. RWE’s Agri‑PV projects in Italy support dual‑use land and data collection. The EIB–Canada cooperation on critical raw materials targets resilient inputs. In Portugal, the ZILS – Sines Industrial and Logistics Zone pipeline (green H₂, ammonia, green steel) aligns with Galp’s low‑carbon projects in Sines.
Lower‑carbon LNG chain
Gas projects integrated capture and low‑carbon features. QatarEnergy’s North Field West LNG expansion adds 16 MTPA with 1.1 MTPA CCS and jetty boil‑off recovery, awarded to a JV including Technip Energies’ EPCC scope. Backed by a strong balance sheet and backlog, Technip Energies’ 2025 results emphasized readiness for mega‑projects, including lower‑emission LNG, reinforcing CCUS integration across hydrocarbon value chains relevant to downstream chemicals.