big deal

ExxonMobil, Worley to bring low-carbon hydrogen project to Baytown

The facility in Baytown is expected to produce 28.3 million cubic meters of low-carbon hydrogen daily. Photo via exxonmobil.com

ExxonMobil selected Australia-based engineering and professional services company Worley to provide engineering, procurement and construction services for a proposed hydrogen and ammonia production facility in Baytown, which is expected to have a production capacity of 1 billion cubic feet of blue hydrogen per day. ExxonMobil expects the facility will be the largest of its kind in the world.

“We are delighted to continue our strategic, global relationship with ExxonMobil in its execution of upcoming projects, particularly in delivering this EPC project on the US Gulf Coast, which contributes significantly to strengthening Worley’s backlog,” Chris Ashton, CEO of Worley, states, according to Offshore Energy.

The facility in Baytown is expected to produce 28.3 million cubic meters (1 billion cubic feet) of low-carbon hydrogen daily and nearly 1 million metric tonnes (more than 1 million tons) of ammonia per year, which will also capture more than 98 percent of the associated CO2 emissions.

The facility will leverage advanced carbon capture and storage technologies to reduce emissions associated with hydrogen production. ExxonMobile also said its carbon capture and storage system would be available for use by third-party CO2 emitters in the area.

A final investment decision is expected in 2025 , and an anticipated startup in 2029. “Blue” hydrogen is expected to be a top energy driver in 2025 according to global consultancy Wood Mackenzie who predicts that at least three large-scale blue hydrogen projects in the U.S will reach FID by next year.

The company hopes the new facility will help in creating U.S. jobs and supporting community development initiatives throughout the Houston area, and the state.

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A View From HETI

Cemvita has named a new leader in Brazil. Photo via cemvita.com

Houston industrial biotech company Cemvita has announced two strategic moves to advance its operations in Brazil.

The company, which utilizes synthetic biology to transform carbon emissions into valuable bio-based chemicals, acquired a complementary technology that expands its IP and execution of scale-up capacity, according to a news release. The acquisition will bring additional synthetic biology toolsets that Cemvita believes will assist with compressing and commercializing timelines.

The company also appointed Luciano Zamberlan as vice president of operations based in Brazil.

Zamberlan will lead operational execution, site readiness and early commissioning activities in Brazil. He brings more than 20 years of experience in biotechnology to the role. He recently served as director of engineering at Raízen, Brazil’s largest ethanol producer and the world’s largest producer of sugarcane ethanol. At Raízen, he coordinated the implementation of four greenfield plants and oversaw operational teams and process optimization for second-generation ethanol (E2G) and biogas.

“I am very pleased to join Cemvita, a company at the forefront of transforming waste into valuable, sustainable resources,” Zamberlan said in the release. “My expertise in scaling-up innovation, coupled with my experience in structuring and commissioning greenfield industrial operations, is perfectly aligned with Cemvita's mission and I'm eager to bring my energy and drive to accelerate Cemvita's industrial performance and contribute for a circular future.”

Cemvita expanded to Brazil in January to help capitalize on the country’s progressive regulatory framework, including Brazil’s Fuel of the Future Law, enacted in 2024. The law mandates an increase in the biodiesel content of diesel fuel, starting from 15 percent in March and increasing to 20 percent by 2030. It also requires the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and for domestic flights to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1 percent starting in 2027, growing to 10 percent reduction by 2037.

“These steps enable us to augment Brazil’s longstanding bioindustrial ecosystem with next-generation capabilities, reducing early commercialization risk and expanding optionality for future product platforms,” Marcio Silva, CTO of Cemvita, said in the news release. “Together, they strengthen our ability to move from proof-of-concept to industrial reality.”

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