LyondellBasell, Covestro project converts water-based waste to energy
October 26, 2021
Chemical company LyondellBasell and its German-based partner Covestro have developed a project that converts water-based waste to energy, the companies said Monday.
LyondellBasell, with headquarters in Houston and Rotterdam, and the German-based polymer manufacturer have completed their Circular Steam Project in the Netherlands.
The companies, which built a new bio plant and incinerator at an existing production plant, are treating their production waste and transforming it into steam. The steam is then used as an energy source, making it a circular process.
he result is an annual reduction of about 140,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year, which equals the annual emissions of 31,000 cars, the companies said. The process also eliminates the release of 11 million kilograms of salt residue into the surface water.
Rotterdam’s climate initiative includes a goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 50 percent by 2025.
"Climate change is one of the most important global challenges both now and for future generations,” Jean Gadbois, senior vice president manufacturing Europe, Asia and International of LyondellBasell, said in the release. “I am proud that today, we are saving more energy at our Maasvlakte site, equal to the electricity use of 90,000 households. The Circular Steam Project is a great example of how we reduce the use of energy at our manufacturing facilities."