LyondellBasell Signs Two Solar PPAs

LyondellBasell, a global leader in the chemical manufacturing industry, signed two power purchase agreements (PPA) in the U.S. increasing its total procured renewable electricity to 1,366 megawatts (MW), said Smartenergydecisions.

The latest PPAs represent 89% of the chemical company’s goal to procure a minimum of 50% of its electricity from renewable sources.

"We are taking decisive steps to reduce our scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions and power purchase agreements are a critical lever towards meeting our targets," said Chris Cain, LyondellBasell Senior Vice President for Net Zero Transition Strategy, in a statement. "These two new agreements help us accelerate the development of clean energy and shift to use of low carbon energy at our sites."

The company signed a long-term PPA for 125 MW of renewable electricity sourced from TotalEnergies' Brazoria Solar project in Brazoria County, Texas. The 15-year agreement is expected to generate approximately 300,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of solar power annually.

The project is expected to start operations at the end of 2025. This is the company's second PPA with TotalEnergies.

LyondellBasell also signed a long-term PPA with Industrial Sun to supply 50 MW of renewable electricity from Industrial Sun's Industrial Bravo solar project in Matagorda County, Texas, to the LyondellBasell Matagorda Complex. This facility produces high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic resins used to manufacture various consumer products.

The project is expected to begin operations in the first half of 2026.

We remind, The European Union (EU) Innovation Fund has selected LyondellBasell Industries NV’s advanced recycling project at Wesseling, Germany, to receive a €40 million grant, said the company. The fully-electrified, industrial-scale plant, which will demonstrate the company’s MoReTec recycling technology, is one of 41 projects selected for grants during the Innovation Fund’s “Third Call for Large Scale Projects,” the company announced on Dec. 13.

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Dow received recognition for its commitment to LGBTQ+ equality with a top score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation’s 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), said the company.

This marks the Company's 18th consecutive year receiving a perfect score on the Index, a national benchmarking tool measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality.

“Promoting equality through our policies and practices enhances Dow’s culture, creating an environment where everyone can thrive, and drives innovation and success,” said Amy Wilson, Dow’s general counsel and corporate secretary, and executive sponsor of GLAD, the Company’s LGBTQ+ and ally employee resource group. “We are incredibly proud to once again receive this recognition, which is a testament to our consistent, multi-decade efforts championing LGBTQ+ rights.”

Dow offers best-in-class policies and practices for employees, including those important to LGBTQ+ colleagues – equal benefits to same-sex partners for health, dental and life insurance, parental and bereavement leave, relocation, dual-career assistance, and survivor benefits. Dow has enhanced its Total Rewards to be more inclusive in its coverage, furthering the Company's leadership in equitable offerings. As a part of that initiative, Dow established global minimum standards for paid time off for new parents and family caregivers – which includes birthing and non-birthing parents, regardless of gender, as well as adoptive and foster parents. In the U.S., fertility benefits coverage has expanded to be more accessible to same-sex couples.

“Being truly inclusive requires an ongoing commitment and continuous improvement to identify gaps in policy that adversely impact our employees and take the actions needed,” said Louis Vega, president of Dow North America and vice president of Government Affairs & Advocacy. “I am pleased that Dow has been recognized for its work and focus for 18 consecutive years.”

Dow advocates for public policy around the world to help bring fairness and equal treatment to the LGBTQ+ community. As part of this commitment, Dow continues to support the Equality Act, a comprehensive federal framework that ensures fairness and opportunity for all. This year, the Company reaffirmed its commitment to LGBTQ+ rights by signing HRC’s Count Us In Pledge. Globally, Dow shares best practices with other like-minded organizations, leading the way toward a more inclusive, diverse and equitable workplace and world.

We remind, Dow launched two caustic soda products - Caustic DEC and TRACELIGHT™ DEC, part of Dow’s Decarbia™ portfolio of reduced-carbon solutions, with up to 90% lower carbon dioxide. Powered by renewable energy, this electrolysis production process helps lower our customers` Scope 3 emissions, thereby supporting their sustainability goals while maintaining the same product quality. The electrolysis process is also certified by the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS auditing program using a mass balance approach.

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Bain Capital-backed biofuels refiner EcoCeres has tied up with a waste management firm backed by the Chinese city of Shenzhen to source feedstock, the company said on Tuesday, as it expands production of low-carbon fuels to meet fast-growing demand, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The pact between Hong Kong-based EcoCeres and Shenzhen Expressway Group, which handles more than 2.5 million metric tons of food waste annually across China, comes as local governments in China step up collection of feedstocks such as used cooking oil (UCO) to cash in on growing global trade in biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

China's National Energy Administration said in September that local authorities should set up integrated, "closed loop" systems to efficiently collect waste cooking oil from restaurants, process it and refine it into low-carbon fuels - a system the city of Shanghai has had in place for a decade.

The partnership will "create a new model for feedstock procurement and provide a stable and high-quality bio-grease source," EcoCeres said in a statement.

China is the world's largest producer of UCO, with expected output of around 11.4 billion liters this year, or 10.37 million metric tons, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

However, only 25% to 30% of its waste oil is currently collected, compared with about 80% in the U.S. and other developed economies, said James Tam, managing director at Bain Capital, which invested $400 million in EcoCeres this year.

Most of the waste oil collected from restaurants in China is handled by small, local companies. While Chinese domestic demand for biofuels remains low in the absence of government mandates or subsidy programs, foreign demand for lower-carbon fuels has driven rapid growth in the trade of waste oil feedstocks from China.

In addition to its facilities in China, EcoCeres in June announced plans to build a 350,000-metric ton per year biofuel refinery in Johor, Malaysia, to meet global demand.

UCO traded at about $800 a ton in North Asia in mid-November, according to data from S&P Global Commodity Insights, after peaking at more than $1,600 per ton in May 2022.

At recent prices, the 10.37 million tons of UCO China produces annually is worth around $8.3 billion if collected and treated, according to Reuters' calculations based on USDA figures. "People are sensing this is a commercial opportunity and building an ecosystem for collecting the oil," Tam said.

We remind, The disruption to energy flows in the Red Sea is unlikely to have large effects on crude oil and LNG prices as vessel redirection opportunities imply that production should not be directly affected, Goldman Sachs said. Oil prices advanced on Tuesday, extending gains from the previous session, as attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi militants on ships in the Red Sea disrupted maritime trade and forced companies to reroute vessels.

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Evonik’s Biotech Hub is partnering with the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and RWTH Aachen to develop a novel bacterial consortium to strengthen the immune system of chickens and to prevent the colonization by pathogens of their intestinal tract, said the company.

The aim is to enhance health and help reduce the use of antibiotics. Evonik is both a partner in the three-year joint Chicken Synthetic Microbiota (ChiSYN) project and the project coordinator. The total project volume is over €2 million and is funded by the project partners on a pro rata basis and by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL).

“For our health, we need healthy food and for that we need healthy animals,” says Christoph Kobler, who heads the Biotech Hub. “Our innovative microbial consortium contributes to both animal health and sustainable human nutrition.”

The aim of the project partners is to develop a prototype feed additive that makes sure that “beneficial microorganisms” colonize the gut of chicks. To achieve this, bacteria that strengthen the immune system and make colonization by pathogens more difficult are selected from a broad population of chickens. The project partners then combine these microorganisms to create a novel consortium.

“In the development of this bacterial consortium, we benefit from our experience of gut simulation and the successful development of probiotics for livestock farming,” says Stefan Pelzer, who heads the In Silico & Target Systems research unit at the Biotech Hub. Pelzer and his team have been working with the dynamic chicken gut simulation model “DAISy” since 2018. They use the findings to develop new gut health products and disruptive, high-precision nutritional concepts that take account of gut bacteria for the first time.

In this project, Evonik’s experience of industrial biotechnology is complemented perfectly by the skillsets of its strategic partners at the universities in Aachen and Munich.

RWTH contributes many years of experience in the systematic collection and investigation of bacterial communities in the gastrointestinal tract of humans and livestock and the isolation and characterization of gut microbiota using high-throughput methods.

TUM examines the effect of selected types of bacteria on the health of chickens. It focuses on the development of the chickens’ immune system and its interaction with pathogens.

We remind, Dow and Evonik are proud to announce the successful start-up and operation of a pioneering hydrogen peroxide to propylene glycol (HPPG) pilot plant at Evonik’s site in Hanau, Germany. Collaboratively developed by Dow, the world’s largest producer of propylene glycol, and globally leading hydrogen peroxide manufacturer Evonik, the plant uses the distinct HYPROSYN method to enable the direct synthesis of propylene glycol (PG) from hydrogen peroxide and propylene.

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The Board of Directors of HEXPOL AB has appointed Klas Dahlberg as CEO and President of the company. He will take up the position latest by 1 July 2024, said the company.

Klas Dahlberg currently holds the position as Head of Business Area NIBE Climate Solutions. He has been with NIBE since 2016 and he has been responsible for NIBE Climate Solutions since 2018. Prior to joining NIBE, he had a successful international career spanning over a 30-year period with the Scania group, with his last position being responsible for the division of Buses & Coaches. Klas has lived and worked in Germany for many years. He holds a M.Sc. in Engineering from Lund University, Sweden.

“It is a pleasure to welcome Klas to HEXPOL. Klas’ substantial international experience, tested leadership skills and successful career will be of high value to the continued strategic development of HEXPOL, with focus on further expansion through acquisitions, organic growth and development of advanced polymer solutions with improved sustainable footprint”, says Alf Goransson, Chairman of HEXPOL AB.

“I am looking forward to, together with all employees at HEXPOL, create value for customers, shareholders and other stakeholders. I am grateful for the trust shown by the Board of Directors and humble before the task to continue the successful journey led by my predecessor, Georg Brunstam”, says Klas Dahlberg.

We remind, HEXPOL Middlefield Has Achieved The International Sustainability And Carbon Certification (ISCC PLUS) As A Rubber Compounding Processing Unit With Mass Balance Chain Of Custody. The International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) is a certification program for the Circular Economy that focuses on the verification and traceability of sustainable materials. ISCC is globally recognized as the standard of choice for industry sustainability certifications.

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