ABB signed a supply agreement with Citroniq to deliver advanced automation, electrification, and digitalization solutions for a 100% biogenic polypropylene facility in Nebraska, USA. This facility aims to become the world’s first full commercial-scale plant producing fully bio-based polypropylene. Industries widely use polypropylene in food and beverage packaging, automotive components, consumer goods, and medical devices.
Commercial Operations Set for 2029
The Nebraska facility is slated to start operations in 2029, producing fully certified biogenic polypropylene using feedstock from the established corn-based ethanol industry in the United States. Through this project, Citroniq plans to transform the plastics manufacturing landscape, creating a sustainable platform that significantly reduces emissions in the hard-to-abate plastics sector.
Decarbonizing US Polypropylene Production
At full capacity, Citroniq’s three-plant platform is expected to decarbonize the US polypropylene market by 20%. This is based on company estimates. The first facility will convert corn-based ethanol into polypropylene. It will also capture three million tonnes of CO₂ annually and permanently store it as solid pellets.
ABB to Deliver Advanced Automation and Digitalization Solutions
Upon final investment decision, ABB will supply its ABB Ability™ System 800xA® distributed control system and advanced process control. It will also provide digital simulation tools and electrical equipment. The scope also includes instrumentation and engineering services to optimize design, delivery, and plant operations.
Mel Badheka, President and Co-Founder of Citroniq, stated, “Our collaboration with ABB is a critical step in building an advanced, world-class manufacturing facility that transforms the plastics industry. We engaged ABB early because of their leadership in automation and expertise, which is essential for a project of this scale.”
Driving Low-Carbon Manufacturing with Technology
ABB’s integrated automation and electrification solutions will play a key role in enabling safe, efficient, and reliable operations at the Nebraska plant. Per Erik Holsten, President of ABB’s Energy Industries division, said, “We are proud to collaborate on this complex project, bringing our technology and expertise to enable the development of low-carbon manufacturing infrastructure in the US. Through our solutions, we aim to help Citroniq achieve its decarbonization goals in a hard-to-abate sector.”
ABB: A Global Leader in Electrification and Automation
ABB, with over 140 years of innovation and 110,000 employees worldwide, is a global technology leader. It helps industries improve performance while reducing environmental impact. By combining engineering excellence with digital innovation, ABB ensures industries operate efficiently, productively, and sustainably.
Pioneering Carbon-Negative Polypropylene
Citroniq is spearheading the decarbonization of the plastics industry by producing the world’s only carbon-negative polypropylene. As per company press release, its E2O process uses locally produced ethanol and proven technologies in an innovative configuration, sequestering carbon permanently into a useful plastic pellet. This approach helps global companies reach their net-zero targets, demonstrating Nature-Driven Innovation at its best.
