Linde’s Clean Hydrogen Powers Celanese’s Low-Carbon Methanol

Linde has commenced the supply of clean hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide (CO2) to Celanese, a global chemical and specialty materials company. The industrial gas giant is delivering the captured CO2 and hydrogen from its state-of-the-art carbon monoxide and hydrogen production facility in Clear Lake, Texas.

This collaboration expands upon the existing supply of carbon monoxide, oxygen, and nitrogen to Celanese from the same site, facilitated through Linde’s extensive US Gulf Coast pipeline system.

At its Fairway Methanol LLC joint venture with Mitsui & Co., Ltd., Celanese will utilize the supplied captured CO2 and clean hydrogen as crucial feedstock for producing methanol with a significantly reduced carbon intensity. The move aligns with Celanese’s commitment to addressing environmental challenges and producing goods with a lower carbon footprint.

Mark Murray, Senior Vice-President of Acetyls at Celanese, expressed the company’s dedication to lowering carbon intensity by utilizing CO2 that would otherwise be emitted into the atmosphere. The deployment of a carbon capture and utilization (CCU) project at the Clear Lake, Texas site signifies a significant step, with the capacity to support the production of 130,000 metric tonnes of low-carbon methanol annually, capturing 180,000 metric tonnes of CO2 industrial emissions.

Celanese’s innovative approach involves leveraging CCU to introduce low-carbon alternatives across its acetyl chain and engineered materials products. These sustainable solutions, branded under the name ECO-CC, are supported by mass balance tracking and life cycle assessment processes, ensuring transparency in their environmental impact.

The CCU process involves converting captured CO2 into a methanol bulking block using reduced carbon-intensity hydrogen. This low-carbon input, derived from industrial emissions, is instrumental in reducing the reliance on traditional fossil fuel-based raw materials. Impressively, 80% of the captured CO2 waste comes from third-party sources, highlighting a collaborative effort to address emissions beyond individual company boundaries.

Amer Akhras, Vice-President of the South Region at Linde, expressed pride in expanding the existing relationship by investing in the Clear Lake facility. This investment signifies a commitment to supporting the production of essential chemicals with a lower carbon intensity, marking a significant stride towards a more sustainable and environmentally conscious industrial landscape.