Uniper is set to develop a syngas plant at the Chemelot industrial cluster in the Netherlands, according to a company statement. The facility will use torrefied biomass to produce syngas, which can replace natural gas in chemical production processes. Syngas is a sustainable gas that plays a crucial role in the green production of fertilizers, plastics, pharmaceuticals, and other materials. The project is still in the early development phase and is expected to be operational by 2027/2028. The plant could then be scaled up in the following years.
Uniper aims to make an important contribution to making the industry more sustainable while ensuring the security of supply of green energy. Green gas and electrification are possible routes to making chemical production processes more sustainable. However, the construction of the hydrogen backbone for Chemelot is planned to start after 2028, and the expansion of the electricity grid at Chemelot after 2030. In the meantime, Uniper is considering using syngas from torrefied biomass to help make chemical production more sustainable.
By 2035, Uniper wants its European portfolio to be CO2 neutral. Uniper wants to help make the same pace possible for its customers. In addition to the syngas plant at Chemelot, Uniper is also developing a 200-500 MW electrolyser for green hydrogen at the Maasvlakte in the Netherlands.
Uniper chief operating officer (COO) Holger Kreetz said that the project is an excellent example of Uniper’s commitment to the Netherlands and the decarbonisation of hard-to-abate industries such as the chemical industries at Chemelot. This forms part of Uniper’s wider decarbonization activity across Europe and at the Maasvlakte, where the company is currently undertaking a FEED study for 100-500 MW of green hydrogen production.
Chemelot executive director Loek Radix is very pleased with Uniper’s intention to develop the syngas plant, as Chemelot has the ambition to be the most sustainable chemistry site in Europe using the strong integration of the site. Approximately 8,000 employees in more than 200 companies work on the 800-hectare site of Chemelot.
For more information visit www.uniper.energy
