World’s first fossil-free plastics facility built in Belgium

Lummus Technology, a global provider of process technologies and value-driven energy solutions, announced Vioneo has selected its Novolen polypropylene (PP) technology for a new grassroots plant in Antwerp, Belgium.

The plant will be part of Vioneo’s complex that, once complete, will be the world’s first industrial scale fossil-free plastics production complex, based on green methanol.

The complex will also be highly electrified using renewable electricity and use renewable hydrogen
as key components to its operations.

“Vioneo’s goal of delivering the world’s first fossil-free polypropylene plastics facility is bold, ambitious, and one we are honoured to support,” said Leon de Bruyn, President and Chief Executive Officer, Lummus Technology.

“Our proven polypropylene polymerisation technology will allow Vioneo to produce high-performance, drop-in polypropylene grades through a low-emissions process without compromising quality or flexibility.”

The first-of-its-kind plant will have a capacity of 200KTA
and will use 100 percent segregated green propylene and ethylene as feedstock to produce a wide range of polypropylene grades.

With high-purity feedstock and proven technology, polypropylene will serve as a direct drop-in replacement for fossil-based alternatives.

The plastics produced will be fully traceable and CO2 negative, allowing customers to reduce their Scope 3 emissions.

“Vioneo is driving the plastics industry’s transition by proving that large-scale, cleaner production with green methanol-derived
feedstocks is economically viable,” said Alex Hogan, Chief Executive Officer, Vioneo.

“Our collaboration with Lummus Technology to license their premier Novolen® polypropylene technology for our Antwerp facility is fundamental to this vision.

“This world-first plant will use fully certified green propylene and ethylene from industrially proven Methanol-To-Olefins technology, to produce a broad range of high-quality, drop-in bio-polypropylene grades, significantly advancing a sustainable plastics economy.”

Lummus’ scope includes the technology license,
process design package, support during the front-end engineering design phase and catalyst supply during ongoing operations.

Lummus’s Novolen PP technology is part of the Verdene technology suite, which is made up of technologies for sustainable polymer producers using bio-feedstock to produce fully bio-based polymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene and super absorbent polymers.

The suite offers reduced to net-negative carbon dioxide emissions because of the sequestration of CO2-based carbon in the polymer itself. The polymer functions the same as polymers produced from traditional hydrocarbon sources.