Germany's Scholz aims high on green jet fuel output

Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday set out Germany's ambitions to become a strategic production center for sustainable jet fuel and to lure investment to build on its importance as one of aerospace group Airbus' manufacturing centers, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Earlier this month, the European Parliament adopted a deal to set binding targets for airlines in Europe to increase their use of sustainable aviation fuels, or SAFs, which have net zero or lower CO2 emissions than the fossil fuel kerosene.

On Monday, German energy firm HH2E announced a joint venture with logistics giant DHL and South Africa's Sasol to explore hydrogen-powered SAF production in Germany. Airbus is considering joining the consortium to use the fuel, HH2E said.

Scholz told delegates at the National Aviation Conference in Hamburg on Monday the EU targets would be challenging for companies and that it was crucial they did not distort competition in the event other non-EU countries have less rigorous targets.

We remind, Russia's Transneft suspended deliveries of diesel to the key Baltic and Black Sea terminals of Primorsk and Novorossiysk on Friday. Russia temporarily banned exports of gasoline and diesel to all countries outside a circle of four ex-Soviet states with immediate effect to stabilize the domestic fuel market, the government said on Thursday, without a specified end date.

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BASF is expanding its growing portfolio of 14C bio-based monomers with a proprietary process for production of 2-Octyl Acrylate (2-OA), said the company.

The new product underlines BASF’s strong commitment to innovation for a sustainable future with 73% 14C-tracable bio-based content according to ISO 16620. Besides the regular 14C bio-based 2-Octyl Acrylate, BASF also launched the new product as 2-Octyl Acrylate BMB ISCC Plus. Here, the remaining carbon content is ISCC PLUS certified, and by applying BASF’s biomass balance (BMB1) approach, this variant offers a further reduced product carbon footprint (PCF2).

With an industrial-scale production setup at its Verbund site in Ludwigshafen, Germany, BASF has a pioneering role when it comes to producing 2-Octyl Acrylate in large volumes. This allows BASF to make the bio-based monomer globally available as a raw material. “We have broadened our product portfolio to support customers on their sustainability journey. With 2-OA, we are proud to have launched a novel acrylic monomer that helps customers to meet their sustainability goals," says Dr. Reiner Geier, Senior Vice President Industrial Petrochemicals Europe.

BASF’s 2-Octyl Acrylate uses 2-Octanol as the respective bio-based feedstock. This bio-alcohol is based on castor oil, a sustainable non-edible feedstock which is reliably available throughout the year.

With its balanced solvency, 2-Octyl Acrylate can easily be used as bio-based alternative to fossil-based monomers such as 2-Ethylhexyl Acrylate (2-EHA) and n-Butyl Acrylate (BA) e.g. in adhesives formulations, or coatings applications.

The new product also offers performance benefits compared to fossil alternatives, showing improved scrub resistance in coatings, shear resistance in adhesives and excellent weatherability. Therefore, 2-Octyl Acrylate is one of the few 14C bio-based monomers which can be used in both standard and high-performance applications. The high purity of BASF’s 2-Octyl Acrylate provides a reliably high quality, with low volatile organic compounds (VOC) and enables customers to use the monomer in a broad application range.

BASF’s 2-Octyl Acrylate is already registered in the EU, the US, Japan and many other countries. Further registrations are ongoing.

We remind, BASF announced the launch of the industry’s first biomass balance offerings for plastic additives, said the company. The initial offerings, including Irganox 1010 BMBcert and Irganox 1076 FD BMBcert, are certified by TUV Nord for mass balance according to the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC PLUS). These industry-first solutions support the use of renewable feedstock to replace fossil feedstock and help BASF’s customers meet their sustainability targets.

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Energy giant Galp has taken a step towards a sustainable and low-carbon future with its recent announcement of a EUR650 million (approximately USD692 million) investment aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of the Sines refinery and its product portfolio, ushering in a new era of eco-friendly energy solutions in Portugal, said Industryandenergy.

At the core of Galp’s transformative vision are two projects: a 270 thousand tons per annum (ktpa) advanced biofuels unit, developed in partnership with Mitsui, and a 100-megawatt (MW) electrolysis plant dedicated to the production of green hydrogen. Both initiatives are projected to start operations in 2025.

Galp and Mitsui have joined forces to establish a 75/25 joint venture and invest in a substantial 270 ktpa advanced biofuels unit located adjacent to the Sines refinery. This unit represents a pioneering effort in the production and marketing of advanced biofuels, utilizing waste residues to craft renewable diesel (hydrotreated vegetable oil – HVO) and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

The environmental impact of this initiative is striking. It is expected to prevent around 800 ktpa of greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 3, CO2e) when compared to conventional fossil fuel alternatives. The synergy between Galp’s operational expertise and Mitsui’s global reach is poised to ensure the efficient procurement of plant feedstock.

The technology behind this eco-friendly endeavor will be provided by Axens, with the consortium of Technip Energies and Technoedif Engenharia serving as the main Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Management (EPCM) provider. The estimated investment in this pioneering plant is around €400 million, and Galp will be the primary operator, consolidating 75% of all businesses related to the joint venture.

We remind, Spanish energy giant Repsol is investing 100 MM euros to reduce emissions at its 186,000 bpd Tarragona refinery in Spain, which begins two months of maintenance at the end of the week. The distillation and hydrotreating fuel units will stop simultaneously on Sept. 23, while the remaining areas of the Tarragona complex, such as the chemical plants, will continue to operate normally.

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Impact Coatings launches next generation premium fuel cell (FC) coating for heavy duty applications, said Coatings.specialchem.

The new premium FC coating offers enhanced properties and protection for anode and cathode metal plates in LT-PEM FC stacks. During the last decades, focus on ways of leaving fossil fuel-based powertrains has increased. Electrical vehicles transferring hydrogen into electricity in fuel cells have become increasingly interesting for OEMs to pursue, especially for long distances and heavy-duty applications.

The most common technology in this field is the LT-PEM (Low Temperature Proton-Exchange Membrane or Polymer Electrolyte Membrane) based fuel cell system. LT-PEM fuel cells rely on anode and cathode plates arranged in the fuel cell stack, plates that are either made of metal or graphite.

From a production point of view metal plates are the emerging solution, thanks to the higher power density and to lower cost, size and weight. To assure a long lifetime and efficiency in the stack’s challenging environment, a surface treatment, such as PVD coating, is necessary.

During recent years heavy-duty applications have been driving an increasing demand for components that can withstand higher voltages without degradation of the protective coating. To meet this demand, Impact Coatings has developed and introduced the new premium FC coating in the group’s fuel cell coating portfolio.

Impact Coatings’ new robust premium FC coating mitigates metal ion leakage into the fuel cell stack at potentials up to 1.6 V. Leaking metal ions damage the stack membranes, reducing both stack life and performance. With the new, premium FC coating, which offers good adhesion and electrical conductivity, as well as stable and low contact resistance, the stack's performance will be maintained throughout the stack's lifetime.

We remind, ExxonMobil said it is advancing development of a new class of C5-based polymers expected to generate earnings of USD1 billion per year by 2040, said the company. The thermoset resin is based on technology pioneered by Materia, Inc. (Pasadena, California), which ExxonMobil acquired in 2021.

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Univar Solutions, a solution provider to users of specialty ingredients and chemicals, announces that it is expanding its longtime distribution partnership with Dow into Germany, said Coatings.specialchem.

With the addition of a wide variety of DOWSIL™ Silicone Additives and DOWSIL™ Silicone Resins, Univar Solutions continues to strengthen its coatings, adhesives, sealants, elastomers (CASE) and industrial products portfolio in the region for paint and coatings applications.

"We are thrilled to build upon our global relationship with Dow and expand our silicones portfolio. As longstanding distribution partners, we know that together we can help deliver business and technical success for customers across the globe," said Chris Fitzgerald, global vice president of Coatings, Adhesives, Sealants, Elastomers and Rubber and Plastic Additives for Univar Solutions.

“Our silicones customers in Germany will continue to benefit from the same high level of reliable and consistent service and outstanding technical expertise found at our Essen Solution Center, along with a more expansive product portfolio to help accelerate their innovation and growth," added Fitzgerald.

Silicone additives and resins offer a complementary combination of benefits designed to perform throughout a wide range of critical functions for paint and coatings applications spanning a wide variety of industrial and consumer markets.

Created for water-borne and solvent-borne formulations, silicone additives are used to provide thermal and moisture resistance, improved weatherability, color and gloss retention, compliance with volatile organic compounds (VOC) regulations and organic resin compatibility.

Versatility, ease of use and high efficiency at low concentration levels make silicone additives and resins for paints and coatings an attractive and more sustainable solution for many manufacturers around the globe.

We remind, Univar Solutions Mexico, a global solutions provider to users of specialty ingredients and chemicals, announced an exclusive distribution agreement with dsm-firmenich, global innovators in nutrition, health, and beauty, that create solutions which positively contribute to the daily care routine and health of people's face, skin, and hair worldwide.

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