A major Dutch initiative designed to investigate how waste can be used as a raw material to produce chemicals has more than doubled in size since being launched late last year.

Initially formed by AkzoNobel, Canadian company Enerkem and four regional partners, the collaboration has since attracted eight more commercial parties.

The aim is to use Enerkem’s technology to manufacture synthesis gas from domestic and other waste and use it as a feedstock for making products such as methanol and ammonia.

The public-private partnership will study the options for setting up Europe’s first plant, either in Rotterdam or Delfzijl. The partners will publish the results of the study later this year.

“We welcome all the new partners in our quest to use waste as a raw material for chemicals,” said Peter Nieuwenhuizen, research director of AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals.

“Both the size and diversity of this partnership are unique in the Netherlands. Together, we form a strong group of companies whose capabilities combine to provide all we’ll need to convert this promising technology into practical reality.”

The latest commercial organizations to join the partnership are Van Gansewinkel (founder of the Circularity Center), EEW Energy from Waste, BioMCN, Air Liquide, Veolia, Visser & Smit Hanab, the Port of Rotterdam Authority and DNV GL. They join founding partners AkzoNobel, Enerkem, the Investment and Development Company for the Northern Netherlands (NOM), Groningen Seaports, Clean Tech Delta and the South Holland development company InnovationQuarter.

Together, the 14 partners have all the expertise needed to make the initiative a success, from waste collection to conversion to industrial plants and sales. The primary aim is to use Enerkem’s proven conversion process to turn domestic and other waste into useful products.

“Waste is an abundant resource and is a problem in many regions throughout the world. Waste is also a low cost unconventional feedstock that can be used to produce chemicals,” adds Vincent Chornet, Enerkem’s CEO. “The advantage of Enerkem’s process is that it is fully compatible with the existing waste infrastructure”. He added that making syngas and methanol from waste can deliver a sustainable cost-effective source of raw material for the chemical industry.

About AkzoNobel

AkzoNobel is a leading global paints and coatings company and a major producer of specialty chemicals. Calling on centuries of expertise, we supply industries and consumers worldwide with innovative products and sustainable technologies designed to meet the growing demands of our fast-changing planet. Headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, we have approximately 46,000 people in around 80 countries, while our portfolio includes well-known brands such as Dulux, Sikkens, International, Interpon and Eka. Consistently ranked as one of the leaders in the area of sustainability, we are committed to making life more liveable and our cities more human.

About the partners

• Air Liquide (www.airliquide-benelux.com) is the world leader in gases, technologies and services for Industry and Health.
• BioMCN (www.biomcn.eu) is the first company in the world to produce and sell industrial quantities of high quality bio-methanol.
• Clean Tech Delta (www.cleantechdelta.nl) is a triple helix partnership driven cooperation of internationally operating companies, knowledge institutes and local governments with the ambition to strengthen the clean tech cluster in the Rotterdam – Delft – Drechtsteden region.
• DNV GL (www.dnvgl.com) is a global player on independent verification, qualification and certification of novel technologies and due diligence services. DNV GL plans to evaluate the risks of the new technology.
• EEW Energy from Waste (www.eew-energyfromwaste.com) is a leading company in the generation of power and heat from thermal waste recycling and treatment.
• Enerkem (www.enerkem.com) makes biofuels and renewable chemicals from waste. With its proprietary technology Enerkem converts non-recyclable municipal solid waste into methanol, ethanol and other widely used chemical intermediates.
• Groningen Seaports (www.groningen-seaports.com) is the port authority for the port of Delfzijl, Eemshaven and the adjoining industrial sites.
• InnovationQuarter (www.innovationquarter.nl) is the regional economic development agency for the Dutch region of West Holland.
• NOM invests in the development of the Northern Netherlands by acquiring foreign companies, financing and business development. (www.nvnom.com)
• Port of Rotterdam Authority is responsible for the sustainable development, management and exploitation of the port and renders speedy and safe services for shipping.(www.portofrotterdam.com)
• Van Gansewinkel (www.vangansewinkelgroep.com) is market leader in waste management in the Benelux region, having a strong focus on converting waste into valuable materials.
• Veolia (www.veolia.com) helps cities and industries to manage, optimize and make the most of their resources by providing an array of solutions related to water, energy and materials to promote the transition toward a circular economy.
• Visser & Smit Hanab (www.vshanab.nl), a VolkerWessels company, develops, builds and maintains technologically sophisticated and sustainable links, networks and installations for water, energy, chemical and petrochemical production.