17 April 2018
DETAILS
Air Liquide and Covestro have recently signed
a new long-term contract for the supply of hydrogen
at Covestro’s production site in the port area of Antwerp.
Air Liquide will invest 80 million euros
in the construction of a
"new generation" hydrogen production unit.
This state-of-the-art plant will be fitted with
a new Air Liquide proprietary technology
that improves energy efficiency
and the overall environmental footprint
of the production process.
The hydrogen produced will also enable Air Liquide
to supply customers in this industrial basin in Europe.
In connection with this new long-term contract,
the hydrogen will be used in the production of aniline,
which is one of the base chemicals of the polyurethanes
found in many applications in the sectors
of construction, automotive or home appliances.
Air Liquide will design, build and operate a
“next-generation” hydrogen production unit
- SMR-X™1- producing hydrogen
with an increased energy efficiency
and a reduced carbon footprint.
1Steam Methane Reformer - steam reforming natural gas unit.
SMR-X™ is a new generation of SMR equipped with
Air Liquide's proprietary technology
that produces hydrogen without co-producing excess steam.
Overall natural gas consumption to produce hydrogen,
as well as CO2 emissions will be reduced by around 5%
compared with conventional SMR.
At the same time, part of the CO2 generated
during the production process
will be captured by Covestro
and used as a feedstock in its production process.
By capturing carbon and upgrading the recovered CO2,
this model is part of
a circular economy system.
Expected to start operation in 2020,
this new SMR-X™ unit
will offer optimal performances
in terms of energy efficiency, safety and reliability.
The new plant will also support the development
of the Covestro production site in Benelux
and will strengthen Air Liquide’s existing network
for the supply of hydrogen in the Antwerp industrial area.
Guy Salzgeber,
Executive Vice-President
and member of the Air Liquide group’s Executive Committee
supervising industrial activities in Europe
"We are delighted to strengthen our partnership
with Covestro, a strategic customer of the Group.
With this next-generation hydrogen plant,
Air Liquide demonstrates its ability
to meet its customers’ needs thanks to solutions
offering an increased energy efficiency
and a reduced carbon footprint.
This project illustrates our innovation capacity
and enable us to reinforce our presence
in one of the most dynamic industrial basins
of northern Europe.”
Volker Weintritt,
Managing Director of Covestro in Antwerp
“We are pleased to strengthen our partnership
with Air Liquide.
Thanks to this new investment,
not only will a reliable and flexible supply
of raw materials to our site be guaranteed,
but also the new facility and its capacities
could open up new perspectives for our Antwerp site.”
MEDIA RELATIONS
Caroline Brugier
+33 (0)1 40 62 50 59
Christel des Royeries
+33 (0)1 40 62 58 49
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