Neste, Alterra, and Technip Energies signed an agreement to advance the circularity of plastics through standardized chemical recycling, known as “advanced recycling.” This collaboration will provide the industry with a modular, standardized technology solution based on Alterra’s proprietary liquefaction technology. The goal is to support global stakeholders in building chemical recycling capacity.
Benefits of Modular Liquefaction Solutions
The partnership’s modular plant design offers numerous advantages. These include reduced pre-investment costs, accelerated project timelines, predictable economics, and decreased overall capital expenditures.
This standardized solution aims to facilitate more efficient execution of chemical recycling projects. It will also help reduce reliance on virgin fossil resources, boosting the circularity of polymers and chemicals.
Proven Liquefaction Technology by Alterra
Alterra’s liquefaction technology is a thermochemical process that converts hard-to-recycle plastics into liquid hydrocarbon products. These liquid intermediates can be refined into high-quality raw materials for new plastics and chemicals. Neste has already processed over 6,000 tons of plastic-derived feeds, including ISCC PLUS-certified oil from Alterra’s industrial-scale facility in Ohio.
A History of Collaboration
Neste and Alterra began collaborating on chemical recycling in 2021, focusing on improving Alterra’s technology and building related value chains. Alterra partnered with Technip Energies in 2022. Now, the three companies Neste, Alterra, and Technip Energies are combining efforts. Alterra and Neste will license the liquefaction technology. Technip Energies will design, engineer, and deliver the standardized plant solution worldwide.
Statements from Key Leaders
Frederic Schmuck, CEO of Alterra Energy, highlighted the technology’s development: “We have a proven liquefaction technology with 15 years of research and improvement. Now, we are making it easier for companies to invest in liquefaction, enabling a copy-paste solution that supports rapid, economical scaling of recycling capacities globally.”
Andreas Teir, head of chemical recycling at Neste, stated, “The demand for sustainable solutions is strong, and we are prepared to meet it. We have experience processing circular feedstocks into high-quality petrochemical raw materials and plan to expand these volumes in the coming years. The new technology offering will help us meet our own growing need for liquefied waste plastic.”
Bhaskar Patel, SVP of Sustainable Fuels, Chemicals & Circularity at Technip Energies, noted industry trends: “The circularity market wants proven technology with low pre-investment costs to support 2030 climate goals. We are excited to offer Alterra’s proven technology, enhanced with Neste’s input, along with our modular solution. We believe this will drive the rapid deployment of chemical recycling capacities.”
Conclusion
As per the press release, the collaboration between Neste, Alterra, and Technip Energies presents a comprehensive solution for chemical recycling, supporting industries worldwide in adopting sustainable and scalable practices.
