Uniper to develop syngas power plant in the Netherlands
• Syngas preserves production of essential chemicals
• Key industrial cluster Chemelot is the first Dutch location for this innovative technology
At Chemelot, Uniper intends to develop a plant for the production of syngas. This sustainable gas can replace natural gas in chemical production processes. Through a scalable process, biomass is torrefied[1] and then converted into syngas. This process produces biogenic CO2, which is used to produce sustainable chemicals. Making Syngas a key element in the green production of plastics, fertilizers and pharmaceuticals, among other things.
The project is now in the early development phase aiming at potentially a first operational phase in 2027/2028. The plant could then be scaled up in subsequent years.
Uniper’s aim is to make an important contribution to making industry more sustainable, whilst 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 to use 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: “This project is an excellent example of Uniper’s commitment to its activities in the Netherlands and to the decarbonization of hard to abate industries such as the chemical industries here at Chemelot. This forms part of our wider decarbonization activity across Europe and at the Maasvlakte, where we 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: "Chemelot has the ambition to be the most sustainable chemistry site in Europe using the strong integration of the site. As soon as possible we want to replace our fossil resource streams consisting of natural gas and naphtha with renewable raw materials and start producing in a fully circular way. In that respect, Uniper's syngas plant fits perfectly into Chemelot's strategy."
About Uniper
Düsseldorf-based Uniper is an international energy company with activities in more than 40 countries. With around 7,000 employees, it makes an important contribution to security of supply in Europe. Uniper’s core businesses are power generation in Europe, global energy trading, and a broad gas portfolio. Uniper procures gas – including liquefied natural gas (LNG) – and other energy sources on global markets. The company owns and operates gas storage facilities with a capacity of more than 7 billion cubic meters. Uniper plans for its 22.5 GW of installed power-generating capacity in Europe to be carbon-neutral by 2035. The company already ranks among Europe’s largest operators of hydroelectric plants and intends to further expand solar and wind energy, which are essential for a more sustainable and autonomous future.
Uniper is a reliable partner for communities, municipal utilities, and industrial enterprises for planning and implementing innovative, lower-carbon solutions on their decarbonization journey. Uniper is a hydrogen pioneer, is active worldwide along the entire hydrogen value chain, and is conducting projects to make hydrogen a mainstay of the energy supply.
About Chemelot
Chemelot is one of the key industrial clusters in the Netherlands. On the Chemelot Industrial Park, 17 production companies are active in 60 different plants, which are strongly interconnected, both in terms of energy and raw material flows. At these companies, and in the unique combination with the Brightlands Chemelot Campus, a lot of work is being done on the transition to sustainable production.
Besides the energy transition, the raw material transition is just as important. Chemelot's ambition is to reach full circular production by 2050. Just because of the high level of integration, Chemelot is in an excellent position to achieve this. Approximately 8,000 employees in more than 200 companies work on the 800-hectare site.
[1] Torrefaction is a thermal process used to reduce the volume of biomass by about 30% for cost optimisation of transport, among other things.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Uniper SE Management and other information currently available to Uniper. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. Uniper SE does not intend, and does not assume any liability whatsoever, to update these forward-looking statements or to modify them to conform with future events or developments.
