Syclus selects Axens technology

With an annual production capacity in the range of 100 000 t, this renewable ethanol-to-ethylene production plant would be a first in Europe, paving the way for a more sustainable way of producing plastics.

The facility will rely on Atol^® technology from Axens, which features very high, cost-effective, ethylene yields and allows for an optimised use of process energy, which minimises emissions.

Basic engineering is scheduled to start in late 2023, and production will begin in 2026. Ethanol will be regionally produced by CropEnergies, who operates a plant for the production of renewable ethanol nearby and who acquired a major share in Syclus in 2022. The investment required is estimated to be more than €130 million.

Igor Hensing, General Director of Syclus B.V., said: ”Syclus has selected Axens as licensor for the ethanol to ethylene project. Axens’ Atol technology provides a high efficiency combined with a low energy consumption process next to high product quality and safety performance. This supports Syclus’ ambition to set a new benchmark in renewable ethylene. Based on our cooperation, Axens has shown to share Syclus’ ambition and we are convinced to have selected the right partner to make the design, construction and operation of our plant a success.”

Stephan Meeder, CEO/CFO of CropEnergies AG, said: “Having a 50% stake in Syclus, we are very happy that they have taken the next step for the realisation of the ethanol to ethylene project with the selection of Axens as a partner. Renewable ethylene is an important step in defossilising the production of plastics, making it more sustainable. Depending on the results of the feasibility study which is currently being carried out, CropEnergies expects to make a decision for the next phase, which will be the basic engineering, by the end of this year.”

Jacques Rault, Executive Vice President Technology & Technical Support of Axens, added: “Atol is a mature technology that already counts five references around the world. We couldn’t be happier to work on Atol’s first reference in Europe and are honoured to have been selected by Syclus. Atol is a safe, reliable, low-carbon solution and we have all the reasons to believe that it is the future of renewable ethylene.”

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/petrochemicals/03072023/syclus-selects-axens-technology/