Nitrogen+Syngas 363 Jan-Feb 2020
31 January 2020
Syngas News
Syngas News
DENMARK
Haldor Topsoe and Sasol to offer joint GTL licenses
Haldor Topsoe and Sasol have announced that they have entered into a collaboration agreement to jointly license their GTL technologies. For many years, the two companies have worked together on numerous GTL projects and technologies, and Topsoe’s Syn-COR™ syngas generation technology and Sasol’s Fischer-Tropsch technologies have been licensed for several world-scale GTL ventures. Under the new collaboration agreement, the companies will continue to offer these core technologies, but will now also provide Topsoe’s hydroprocessing and hydrogen technologies. This gives potential customers access to a single-point licensing offering that covers the entire value chain from gas feed to liquid fuels. As single-point licensors, Sasol and Topsoe will offer customers all necessary technology licenses for a complete GTL solution and in addition provide basic engineering, catalysts, and hardware.
TechnipFMC has been pre-approved to provide licensor engineering support and carry out front-end engineering design, detailed design, procurement, and construction. TechnipFMC was the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for the Oryx GTL facility in Qatar and has performed a number of front-end engineering designs for GTL facilities, including the Uzbekistan GTL.
Amy Hebert, Deputy CEO of Topsoe said: “It is a pleasure to announce this collaboration. Together, Sasol and Topsoe now offer customers complete and proven end-to-end GTL solutions. This is unique and extremely valuable for customers seeking bankable GTL solutions for monetizing abundant natural gas reserves. With this collaboration, we now offer customers a full range of solutions based on many of Topsoe’s core technologies, and we are excited to expand our companies’ global leadership for proven gas monetization solutions.”
Marius Brand, Acting EVP Technology of Sasol, added: “Sasol and Haldor Topsoe’s technology relationship spans more than 20 years, through which we have successfully commercialized several advanced technologies. We are delighted to enter into this collaboration arrangement, and with the support of TechnipFMC we’re able to offer the best GTL technology to the market. Although Sasol announced in 2017 it would not pursue future equity participation in greenfield coal to liquids or GTL opportunities, we recognise that our Fischer-Tropsch technology has a role to play in monetising in-country natural gas resources otherwise not accessible. In addition, the technology could play a significant role, in conjunction with renewable energy resources, in the conversion of greenhouse gases to sustainable liquid fuels. The combination of the Sasol and Topsoe technologies offers a proven and robust solution for these applications.”
UNITED KINGDOM
WEC launches Hydrogen Global Charter
The World Energy Council (WEC) has launched the Hydrogen Global Charter. This initiative aims to be “a platform to recognise the momentum of hydrogen as a complement to electrification as well as the long-term storage option for renewables”, according to the WEC, and will draw together disparate commitments to consume, enable, and invest in clean hydrogen around the world to create a common platform that recognises progress toward bringing scalable and cost-effective clean hydrogen to the market. Any company, government or organisation working to enable and create demand for clean hydrogen can sign the Charter. At its launch, two founding signatories included European energy infrastructure Snam, and SWEN Capital Partners.
Dr Angela Wilkinson, Secretary General of the World Energy Council said: “Global demand for energy is rising and there is no quick fix or silver bullet solution to challenges of energy security, equity and affordability and environmental sustainability. New hydrogen pathways can help achieve bolder ambitions for better lives and a healthy planet. Clean hydrogen can reach parts of the global energy system that cannot be electrified.”
Haldor Topsoe wins IChemE award for its TIGAS™ technology
In November, members of the Topsoe TIGAS™ technology team received the 2019 Institute of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) Global Award in the Oil and Gas category at an event in Hull, UK. TIGAS is based on proven Topsoe technology platforms and catalysts, the key being the proprietary Syn-COR Methanol™ and Gasoline Synthesis technologies. Topsoe offers all catalysts and technology for the process, and describes itself as the only single company in the world that offers an end-to-end gas-to-gasoline solution, including license, basic engineering, catalyst, and hardware. Recently, the world’s only natural gas-to-gasoline plant in operation began production in Turkmenistan, based on TIGAS technology, with a capacity of 15,500 bbl/d. Topsoe says that TIGAS is suitable for regions with abundant gas resources, where it represents an attractive option to monetise natural gas by producing synthetic gasoline that complies with the highest environmental standards, contains no sulphur and very little unwanted by-products, which can be sold into a local or export market.
Speaking at the awards, Kim Knudsen, executive vice president of Topsoe’s Sustainables Business Unit said: “To us, the Oil and Gas award 2019 is the culmination of decades of complex catalyst development, pilot testing, reactor design, and process engineering. The triumph with TIGAS today has only been possible by sharing competences and experience across our entire company… We are extremely happy to receive this recognition from the renowned IChemE organisation and peers in the industry.”
Waste-to-hydrogen plant secures funding
The UK’s first waste-to-hydrogen plant has secured funding for the next stage of its development at its site in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. Peel L&P Environmental has committed to funding the development of the distributed modular gasification (DMG) facility at its Protos Energy Park, using gasification technology developed by UK technology company Powerhouse Energy Group. The Protos facility will be managed by Waste2Tricity after the engineering company obtained the exclusive rights to use Powerhouse’s technology in the UK and Southeast Asia. Projected to cost £7 million, it will have the capacity to process 35 t/d of waste plastics, aiming to produce 3.8 MW of electricity on site, to export 3.4 MW and to produce up to 2 t/d of hydrogen per day from the site.
David Ryan, CEO of PowerHouse Energy, commented: “This agreement represents the completion of the preliminary engineering stage and I am most encouraged that the PHE team have achieved a major uplift in the performance of the DMG process, including almost doubling the hydrogen output to two tonnes, significantly enhancing our partners commercial drivers. The commitment demonstrates significant commercial confidence from Peel L&P Environmental to the immediate and long-term deployment of the process in the UK.”
Start-up for waste to energy plant
North Wales-based waste gasification plant Parc Adfer began full commercial operations in December, following a commissioning phase throughout 2019. The plant, located at Deeside and operated by Wheelabrator Technologies, will process up to 200,000 t/a of non-recyclable waste and is capable of generating 19 MW of electricity. Bill Roberts, chief operating officer of Wheelabrator UK, said: “Wheelabrator Parc Adfer will play an important role in securing future baseload electricity supply, reducing carbon emissions and improving sustainable waste management for the local area in North Wales.”
SWITZERLAND
Clariant to sell Masterbatches business
Speciality chemicals company and catalyst supplier Clariant has agreed to sell its entire plastics additive Masterbatches business to PolyOne. The transaction values the Masterbatches business at $1.56 billion, on a cash and debt free basis. This amount is payable at closing, which is expected by Q3 2020. Clariant says that the proceeds from the divestments of the company’s non-core businesses will be used to invest in innovations and technological applications within its core business areas, to strengthen its balance sheet and to return capital to shareholders. As a consequence of the divestment of the Masterbatches business and the anticipated divestment of the company’s Pigments business by the end of 2020, Clariant’s board is proposing an extraordinary cash distribution of CHF3.00 per share at the company’s annual general meeting in March. Subject to a positive vote of Clariant’s shareholders, the extraordinary distribution of approx. CHF 1 billion will be paid out post the closing of the divestment of the Masterbatches business.
Hariolf Kottmann, Executive Chairman of Clariant said: “This announcement is a significant milestone on our path to focussing on businesses with above-market growth, higher profitability and stronger cash generation. After the successful divestment of Healthcare Packaging in October 2019, the agreement to sell Masterbatches is an important step in delivering on our strategy defined in 2015 to concentrate on our three core business areas: Care Chemicals, Catalysis and Natural Resources. As announced, we are confident that we will execute the remaining divestment of our Pigments business in 2020 in order to build the new, more focused and stronger Clariant by 2021,” he added.
NETHERLANDS
Koolen Industries invests in Proton Ventures
Dutch clean energy company Koolen Industries has invested e4 million in ammonia energy storage company Proton Ventures. Proteon designs and builds pressurised and cooled ammonia storage facilities, as well as small-scale ammonia production facilities called NFUEL units, and says that the investment will help it speed up its roll-out of the NFUEL technology around the world.
“Proton Ventures’ unique and patented technologies enable the production of ammonia using clean energy sources,” said Kees Koolen, CEO of Koolen Industries. “Ammonia is an ideal storage solution for solar power plants and wind farms as it is particularly well suited to store and transport large amounts of energy in efficient ways. This makes it perfect fit for Koolen Industries as we continue to push the global transition to clean energy.”
Hans Vrijenhoef, CEO of Proton Industries added: “It is as important to us that Koolen Industries is present and active across the entire energy chain; from clean energy generation and storage to the transportation and delivery of energy to the end customer. This creates great opportunities for ongoing cooperation and opens doors for us to bigger projects.”
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
Study on methanol plant conversion to refinery
Equatorial Guinea’s Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons (MMH) is set to order the dismantling of the Atlantic Methanol (AMPCO) methanol plant on Bioko Island, calling instead for its conversion into a modular crude oil refinery. The MMH has commissioned a feasibility study for the conversion of the Punta Europa methanol plant, part of the larger Punta Europa gas processing facility, which is owned by Marathon Oil and Noble Energy Inc. (each with a 45% share) and the remainder by the local Sociedad Nacional de Gas de GE SA. The ministry is unhappy about what it sees as lack of investment in the offshore Alba field, operated by Marathon, which feeds the plant, production from which is declining, and has suggested that Marathon’s work programme and exploration and production budget have not been sufficient to keep the plant running.
Equatorial Guinea is now developing its new ‘Gas Mega Hub’ project, aiming to provide additional gas supply to processing facilities, both onshore and offshore. The first phase of this will be a new gas supply agreement signed between the MMH and Noble Energy, operator of the Aseng and Alen fields for gas supply to the Punta Europa gas complex, which includes the Malabo power station, AMPCO methanol plant and the Equatorial Guinea LNG plant.
IRAN
Apadana methanol plant to commission in 2021
Construction of the Apadana Petrochemical Plant is 47% complete and the project is on-course for commissioning in 2021, according to the company’s CEO Jalil Ghasammi. Speaking to local press in December, he said that offtake of the output of the 1.65 million t/a methanol plant has been guaranteed by the Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (PGPIC). Previously known as the Veniran plant, after an abortive collaboration between Venezuela and Iran, Apadana uses methanol technology licensed from Casale. It has been built at a cost of $510 million. Iran’s current methanol output stands at 8.3 million t/a, of which only 300,000 t/a are consumed domestically and the rest exported.
UNITED STATES
Kalama methanol permit saga rumbles on
The battle over an environmental permit for Northwest Innovation Works’ (NWIW) proposed methanol plant at Kalama in Washington State continues, with the Port of Kalama now resorting to legal action to compel a “timely review” of the $2 billion methanol plant project by the Washington State Department of Ecology. After nearly five years of environmental review, the methanol project still has not had a final decision from the Department of Ecology for a key shorelines permit. Meanwhile, an environmental impact assessment by the company was initially rejected and re-submitted, but the Department of Ecology recently rejected a greenhouse gas emissions study on the proposed plant completed by Cowlitz County and the Port of Kalama, deciding to complete its own report, which will include GHG emissions incurred in extracting natural gas feedstock and transporting it to Kalama. NWIW has pledged to offset all its in-state greenhouse emissions, and the county/port climate change analysis concluded that the project would reduce global emissions by at least 10 million t/a, or the equivalent of about 2 million cars, by offsetting coal-based methanol production in China, where the methanol would be used for methanol to olefins (MTO) production.
FEED study on gas to gasoline plant
Primus Green Energy, together with joint venture partnerh IHI E&C International Corporation, has commissioned a front end engineering and design (FEED) study for a first of its kind natural gas-to-gasoline plant in Texas. The proposed plant will be a scaled-up version of Primus’s demonstration plant in New Jersey, which has successfully produced methanol and gasoline using Primus’s patented modular STG+ technology. The proposed plant would consume 28 MMcf/d of natural gas to produce 2,800 bbl/d of gasoline. The FEED study is expected to conclude in the middle of 2020.
STG+ combines steam reforming, syngas to gasoline production via a series of catalytic fixed-bed reactors via methanol and dimethyl ether intermediates, and liquid/gas separation, where the products are cooled and condensed. The gasoline product is sent to storage; the water is reused to make steam for the reformer; and the unconverted gas is recycled, with a portion being used to fuel the reformer.
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
Methanex secures gas for January
Methanex says that it has entered into an interim agreement with National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (NGC) for the continued supply of natural gas to its Titan methanol facility. The supply runs for the calendar month of January, and extends a previous deal which expired on December 31st 2019. Methanex says that negotiations for a longer term natural gas supply deal will continue during the period of the interim arrangement to try and secure the future operations of the plant.
SWEDEN
Methanol from renewables project secures funding
European impact fund InnoEnergy will invest $1.89 million in Swiss eco methanol developer Liquid Wind so that the Gothenburg-based circular carbon energy company could develop a commercial scale renewable methanol facility in Sweden. Liquid Wind plans to convert waste carbon dioxide together with hydrogen from renewable power into renewable methanol. The company is working with a consortium of experts, including Haldor Topsoe, Carbon Clean Solutions, NEL, Axpo and COWI in the so-called FlagshipONE project. Liquid Wind says that it will now begin engineering for its first methanol facility in Sweden. Longer term, the company is aiming to build six initial facilities in Scandinavia and then replicate the operation internationally. Each plant will be designed to capture 70,000 t/a of CO2 and generate 54,000 t/a of methanol. The FlagshipONE facility is expected to be operational on a commercial basis from 2023.
NIGERIA
NNPC to increase stake in GTL plant
Nigeria’s state oil company the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says that it will increase its stake in a Chevron-operated gas-to-liquid plant to 60% as part of a cost dispute resolution with the US major. NNPC currently has a 20% stake in the plant, 100 km southeast of Lagos. The 33,000 bbl/d plant cost $10 billion to complete in 2014, four times the original cost estimate, and several years late. The plant produces synthetic diesel, liquefied petroleum gas and naphtha from natural gas using Sasol technology.
ROMANIA
Romgaz looking at new methanol plant
Romanian state gas company Romgaz is looking at a new 500,000 t/a methanol plant, with an investment of about e2-300 million, according to the company’s general manager, Adrian Volintiru. The company is aiming to diversify its product portfolio and serve “a more complex palette of customers”. The company has commissioned a market study by consulting firm Horvath & Partners, in order to highlight the opportunities in this segment.
RUSSIA Tospoe wins license for Gaz Sintez methanol plant
Gaz Sintez has nominated Haldor Topsoe as licensor for the company’s new 1.6 million t/a methanol plant, to be built at the port of Vysotsk near St Petersburg in Russia’s Leningrad Region. Hyundai Engineering has been working on the FEED-package, and Russia’s NIIK has been awarded the Russian general designer contract. The plant is expected to be completed in 2023.
The plant will feature Topsoe’s SynCOR Methanol™ technology, featuring single-stage oxygen reforming, a methanol synthesis loop and rectification. Topsoe claims that as well as being the most cost-efficient large-scale methanol technology in industrial operation, it also offers environmental advantages and lower water consumption compared to traditional technologies.
CORRECTION
Further to our article in the September/October issue on The Future of Gasification (Nitrogen+Syngas 361, pp22-24), Linde Engineering would like to make clear that they do supply gasifiers for heavy residue and NG gasification, particularly for integrated complex plants and own investment.
