Green plants: Freepoint Eco-Systems appoints Wood to operate its US recycling facility; Next Wave/Lummus produce renewable alkylate from green ethylene

Engineering firm Wood says it has been awarded a three-year contract to operate and maintain the Freepoint Eco-Systems plant in Hebron, Ohio, US. The pyrolysis-based facility is slated to begin operations by end of 2024.

The flagship facility spans 25 acres, utilising a 260,000 sq ft warehouse, making it one of the largest advanced recycling facilities in the world.

This facility will apply advanced pyrolysis recycling technology to convert approximately 90,000 tonnes of end-of-life plastics into a petrochemical feedstock, pyrolysis oil, through a depolymerisation process. The feedstock can then be used in applications such as food-grade and medical-grade plastic packaging.

Wood will provide full facility operations and maintenance management, employing upwards of 100 people, supporting Freepoint Eco-Systems with operational readiness processes including the development of safety and maintenance management systems.

Jess Stanley, Wood’s President of Operations Americas, said: “This contract marks a new operational footprint, supporting the local economy in Ohio, while bringing our tried and trusted practices and processes to Freepoint Eco-Systems to deliver operational excellence at this world-class facility.”

Freepoint Eco-Systems adds it is committed to developing renewable pathways for plastic waste and contributing to a circular economy with each advanced recycling facility, reducing annual greenhouse gas emissions generated by an amount equivalent to removing 15,000 cars from the road.

In other news, technology firm Lummus Technology and energy firm Next Wave Energy Partners have announced the production of the world’s first renewable alkylate. This renewable alkylate, derived from ethanol and produced through a series of Lummus’ technologies, is a bio-based, low carbon intensity fuel blending component.

Working together, Next Wave and Lummus began by taking green ethylene produced from ethanol using the EtE EverGreen technology. The green ethylene was then shipped to Lummus’ R&D centre in Pasadena, Texas, where it was processed in multiple pilot plants and converted into the renewable alkylate.

 Next Wave then conducted extensive engine and emissions testing on the renewable alkylate to ensure performance and verify the expected carbon intensity. In addition, Next Wave is submitting a fuel registration to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for gasoline with up to 79% of renewable alkylate content under 40 CFR Part 79.

“This achievement continues Lummus’ success in innovating and developing breakthrough technologies that propel our industry forward,” said Leon de Bruyn, President/CEO, Lummus Technology. “The success of renewable alkylate production holds strategic significance for our customers, partners and the industry at large as we shift towards more eco-friendly and efficient chemical processes.”

“The production of renewable alkylate, a drop-in blending component with 30% lower carbon intensity than traditional gasoline, is a major breakthrough for our industry and an important milestone in the development of Next Wave’s Project Lightning,” said Michael Bloesch, Next Wave President/CEO. “Project Lightning can enhance the capabilities and optionality of our existing ethylene-to-alkylate facility by enabling the world-scale conversion of ethanol into renewable alkylate, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and carbon negative, polymer grade ethylene — all from the same flexible production unit.”

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