Avantium opens plant-based MEG demonstration plant
Dutch chemical company Avantium inaugurated its plant-based MEG (mono-ethylene glycol) demonstration factory in Chemie Park Delfzijl in the Netherlands last week. The plant is intended to demonstrate another way of reducing the reliance on fossil resources.
The opening ceremony was hosted by Nienke Homan, regional minister of Groningen province, and Avantium CEO Tom van Aken.
The opening celebrates a significant milestone in commercialising the production of plant-based MEG, which is a vital ingredient in the production of polyesters widely used in textiles and packaging. 99% of MEG is produced from fossil resources representing a value of approximately $25-billion (€22.6-billion).
This market is expected to rapidly grow in the coming decades, and Avantium said in a press release that this was: "a great opportunity for the introduction of plant-based MEG as part of the transition to a more renewable world. In addition to its sustainability advantages, the production of plant-based MEG with Ray Technology is cost competitive to fossil-based MEG."
The Ray Technology demonstration plant has a capacity of 10 tonnes annually and will also produce plant-based MPG (mono-propylene glycol) which is used in a diverse set of industries such as cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, food flavouring, and deicing.
Avantium CEO Tom van Aken: “Avantium is proud to be the first company in the world to have brought three technologies to demonstration stage – our YXY Technology, Dawn Technology and now our Ray Technology. It truly demonstrates our ability to scale up and commercialise advanced technologies in the renewable polyester value chain.”
The end-to-end plant-based Ray Technology demonstration plant will cover all steps of the of converting industrial sugars to glycols, allowing for the production of MEG and MPG samples..
Zanna McFerson, Managing Director of Avantium Renewable Chemistries, said: “The opening of this demonstration plant signifies years of research and trials to achieve a significant step towards a commercial flagship plant, aimed for start-up in 2024. Commercial conversations are already ongoing with partners who see an economic opportunity with Ray Technology. We talk with feedstock providers who wish to diversify their markets, chemical companies who seek to enter a significant growth market and transition to a bio-based economy and consumer brands who are looking for plant-based solutions for their textiles and packaging.”
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