The investment plans to add 350 million pounds per year of advanced recycling capacity at Baytown and Beaumont, which will bring ExxonMobil’s total capacity to 500 million pounds annually. Photo via ExxonMobil.com

ExxonMobil announced that it plans to invest more than $200 million to expand its advanced recycling operations at its Baytown and Beaumont sites that are expected to start in 2026. The new operations can help increase advanced recycling rates and divert plastic from landfills, according to ExxonMobil.

“We are solutions providers, and this multi-million-dollar investment will enhance our ability to convert hard-to-recycle plastics into raw materials that produce valuable new products,” says Karen McKee, president of ExxonMobil Product Solutions, in a news release.

The investment plans to add 350 million pounds per year of advanced recycling capacity at Baytown and Beaumont, which will bring ExxonMobil’s total capacity to 500 million pounds annually. The first Baytown facility started in 2022 and represents one of the largest advanced recycling facilities in North America by having processed more than 70 million pounds of plastic waste.

“At our Baytown site, we’ve proven advanced recycling works at scale, which gives us confidence in our ambition to provide the capacity to process more than 1 billion pounds of plastic per year around the world,” McKee said in a news release. “We’re proud of this proprietary technology and the role it can play in helping establish a circular economy for plastics and reducing plastic waste.”

Advanced recycling works by transforming plastic waste into raw materials that can be used to make products from fuels to lubricants to high-performance chemicals and plastics. Advanced recycling allows for a broader range of plastic waste that won't be mechanically recycled and may otherwise be buried or burned.

ExxonMobil will continue development of additional advanced recycling projects at manufacturing sites in North America, Europe and Asia with the goal of reaching 1 billion pounds per year of recycling capacity by 2027.

Greentown Labs and Evonik have launched the Greentown Go Make 2025 accelerator to support startups developing sustainable technologies for the personal care industry. Photo via Evonik.us

Greentown Labs, Evonik launch accelerator to boost sustainability in personal care products

apply now

Greentown Labs and its corporate partner, Germany-based chemicals company Evonik, are calling for submissions to a new program geared at accelerating more sustainable personal care products.

The Greentown Go Make 2025 accelerator, which is based in both Greentown's Houston and Boston-area locations and open to companies from around the world, as launched applications now through January 23.

"Designed to accelerate startup-corporate partnerships to advance climatetech, this Greentown Go program is focused on increasing sustainability within the personal-care industry through the development, introduction, and commercialization of technologies that reduce products’ manufacturing-related emissions and end-of-life environmental impact," reads a news release from Greentown.

"More specifically, Go Make 2025 is interested in biodegradable polymers and sustainable specialty chemicals for personal care. Further details on the technology areas of interest can be found in the request for applications."

The selected companies will have access to Greentown's facilities and receive mentorship, networking opportunities, educational workshops, and structured programming. The startups will also have partnership opportunities with the program's corporate partner Evonik.

“The Greentown Go program represents an exciting opportunity for startups to showcase their groundbreaking solutions in sustainable chemistry,” Anil Saxena, vice president of RD&I at Evonik, says in the release. “At Evonik, innovation and sustainability are not just buzzwords; they are fundamental to our strategic growth. We are eager to identify and collaborate with companies that share our commitment to creating a more sustainable future.”

The global personal care market — which includes products across hygiene, cosmetics and beautification, cleaning, and grooming — represents 0.5 to 1.5 percent of global greenhouse-gas emissions, per Greentown's release. Evonik announced its sustainability-focused game plan in September, focusing on bio-based solutions, the energy transition, and the circular economy.

“The building blocks of the personal-care industry are ripe for climatetech innovation, and there’s no better partner for harnessing this opportunity than Evonik, a global leader in specialty chemicals,” adds Aisling Carlson, senior vice president of partnerships at Greentown. “Greentown Go has a strong track record of fostering meaningful startup-corporate partnerships, and we look forward to working with Evonik and a set of groundbreaking entrepreneurs in this program.”

"Driving the Energy Transition” will air on Houston Public Media’s KUHF News 88.7 every other Monday. Photo courtesy of UH

University of Houston launches web, radio series to address key energy transition topics

tune in

The University of Houston Energy Transition Institute — in its mission to address challenges in the energy field and the ongoing energy transition — is launching two educational series via radio program and web seminars.

“Both these programs are ways for us to reach and share information with our stakeholders in the Houston ecosystem, region, nation and world about the latest trends in research and policy related to the energy transition,” Debalina Sengupta, chief operating officer at ETI, says in a news release.

"Driving the Energy Transition” will air on Houston Public Media’s KUHF News 88.7, and new episodes will be available every other Monday. The Energy Transition Webinar series will run biweekly on Tuesdays and offer online discussions that will feature UH experts and other experts in the field.

The radio series plans to explore innovations, policies and technologies around shifting the world to lower-carbon resources. The webinar series promises a “deep dive” into topics like the hydrogen economy, carbon capture, the circular economy, and sustainable energy practices, according to a news release. The webinars will include strategies for the energy landscape from Texas to globally, from UH faculty, students, industry leaders, and energy pioneers.

“UH is The Energy University, and 'Energy Transition' is the topic that should be on everyone’s mind right now,” ETI founding executive director Joe Powell adds. “How do we meet the dual challenge of expanding supply for equitable global access to energy, while also reducing fossil carbon dioxide emissions to address climate change? How do we continue to produce but also recycle the high-performance hydrocarbon products, which underpin our quality of life?”

The ETI focuses on hydrogen, carbon management, and circular plastics, and was founded in 2022 with a $10 million commitment from Shell. The institute also received a $100,000 grant from Baker Hughes in 2023.The institute also works closely with UH’s Hewlett Packard Enterprise Data Science Institute and researchers across the University, and with other colleges, universities and industry partners. The ETI has helped catalyze “cross-disciplinary cooperation” to expand funding opportunities for UH faculty, which includes direct funding of over 24 projects via seed grants.

“Our aim is to provide reliable scientific evidence-based knowledge for all, to enable them to make informed decisions for the future of energy,” Sengupta says.

Re:3D has moved onto the next phase of a NSF program focused on circular economy innovation. Photo via re3d.org

Houston-founded co. moves on in NSF circular economy accelerator

next phase

An innovative project led by Houston-founded re:3D Inc. is one of six to move forward to the next phase of the National Science Foundation's Convergence Accelerator that aims to drive solutions with societal and economic impact.

The sustainable 3D printer company will receive up to $5 million over three years as it advances on to Phase 2 of the program for its ReCreateIt project, according to a statement from the NSF. Co-funded by Australia's national science agency, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, or CSIRO, ReCreateIt enables low-income homeowners to design sustainable home goods using recycled plastic waste through 3D-printing at its net-zero manufacturing lab.

The project is in partnership with Austin Habitat for Humanity ReStores and researchers from the University of Wollongong and Western Sydney University. CSIRO is funding the Australian researchers.

In Phase II the teams will receive training on product development, intellectual property, financial resources, sustainability planning and communications and outreach. The goal of the accelerator is to promote a "circular economy," in which resources are reused, repaired, recycled or refurbished for as long as possible.

"Progress toward a circular economy is vital for our planet's health, but it is a complex challenge to tackle," Douglas Maughan, head of the NSF Convergence Accelerator program, said in the statement. "The NSF Convergence Accelerator program is bringing together a wide range of expertise to develop critical, game-changing solutions to transition toward a regenerative growth model that reduces pressure on natural resources, creates sustainable growth and jobs, drastically reduces waste and ultimately has a positive impact on our environment and society. Phase 2 teams are expected to have strong partnerships to ensure their solutions are sustained beyond NSF support."

Other teams that are moving forward in the accelerator include:

  • FUTUR-IC: A global microchip sustainability alliance led by MIT
  • PFACTS: Led by IBM's Almaden Research Center and aiming to replace, redesign and remediate fluorine-containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
  • SOLAR: A team led by Battelle Memorial Institute using photovoltaic circularity to develop the technology needed to achieve sustainable solar recycling
  • SpheriCity: A cross-sector tool that examines how plastics, organics and construction and demolition materials flow through local communities developed by the University of Georgia Research Foundation Inc.
  • Topological Electric: Another MIT-led team, this group aims to develop electronic and energy-harvesting device prototypes based on topological materials.

Re:3d and 15 other teams were first named to the Convergence Accelerator in 2022 with a total investment of $11.5 million. At the end of Phase 1, the teams participated in a formal Phase 2 proposal and pitch, according to the NSF. The Convergence Accelerator was launched in 2019 as part of the NSF's Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships.

This is the latest project from re:3D to land national attention and funding. Last year the company was one of 12 to receive up to $850,000 from NASA's SBIR Ignite pilot for its project that aimed to develop a recycling system that uses a 3D printer to turn thermoplastic waste generated in orbit into functional and useful objects, according to the project's proposal.

In 2022, it was also among the winners of an inaugural seed fund expo from the U.S. Small Business Administration. It also earned the prestigious Tibbetts Award from the SBA in 2021. The award honors small businesses that are at the forefront of technology.

Re:3D Inc. was founded in 2013 by NASA contractors Samantha Snabes and Matthew Fiedler and is based in Clear Lake. It's known for its GigaBot 3D printer, which uses recycled materials to create larger devices. The company announced its new Austin headquarters earlier this year.

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This article originally ran on InnovationMap.

The hub will combine advanced sorting and recycling operations to address the plastic waste challenge. Photo courtesy of LYB

LYB makes deal to bring new plastics recycling hub to German town

guten tag

Houston-based chemical company LyondellBasell has signed a land lease agreement for a new integrated plastic waste recycling hub by an existing industrial park in Knapsack, Germany.

The agreement is with YNCORIS, a German industrial service provider. The hub will combine advanced sorting and recycling operations to address the plastic waste challenge and the company hopes it will grow the circular economy.

The first phase of the project will see the construction of an advanced sorting facility, which will process mixed plastic waste that can produce feedstock for mechanical and advanced recycling, since this mixed plastic waste is not recycled and usually sent to incineration for energy recovery. The hub's initial advanced sorting facility expects to start operations in the first quarter of 2026. The large facility will cover an area equivalent to 20 soccer fields.

"The industrial park in Knapsack is the ideal location for our integrated hub as is it close to our world-scale facilities in Wesseling and will allow us to develop additional technologies for the recycling of plastic waste," Yvonne van der Laan, LyondellBasell's executive vice president of circular and low carbon solutions, says in a news release. "The integration of various technologies will allow us to build scale and offer our customers a wide range of products from recycled and renewable resources."

In April, LyondellBasell also secured 208 megawatts of renewable energy capacity from a solar park in Germany. Under the 12-year deal, LyondellBasell aim s to purchase about 210 gigawatt-hours of solar power each year from Germany-based Encavis Asset Management.

By 2030, LyondellBasell hopes to produce and market at least 2 million metric tons of recycled and renewable‑based polymers annually.

Rachel Meidl has more than 27 years of experience in industry, government, policy, finance, international relations, and academia. Photo via rice.edu

National plastics-focused initiative names Houston expert to committee

new role

A Houston energy and sustainability expert has been named to a national committee that provides a forum for issues around national efforts to reduce plastic pollution.

Rachel Meidl, a fellow at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, was appointed to the Roundtable on Plastics Committee established by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.

"As a member of the The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Roundtable on Plastics Committee, our science- and evidence-based work will cover all aspects of the plastics lifecycle and examine interventions in plastic production, waste management, environmental and health impacts, and data collection, management, and modeling," Meidl writes on LinkedIn. "The goal is to pave the way for a sustainable circular economy for plastics. I look forward to working on this important endeavor."

Meidl has more than 27 years of experience in industry, government, policy, finance, international relations, and academia. Her research focuses on sustainability, environmental justice, resiliency, circular economy, safety and environmental regulations of the treatment, storage, disposal and transportation of hazardous materials and wastes.

She also works with understanding environmental, economic and social impacts across energy and material supply chains. Previously, she was appointed deputy associate administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration in Washington, D.C.. There, she led the agency’s domestic and international strategy, policy and programs.

The roundtable is expected to be a way for federal agencies and experts in academia, industry and nongovernmental organizations to talk about future research initiatives. Activities will include aspects of the plastics lifecycle and potential interventions in plastic production and waste management; material and product design; environmental and health impacts and data collection, management and modeling. The National Academies will address the diversity and complexity of issues in reducing plastic waste by convening various sectors and experts to match each step in the lifecycle of the plastics.

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Robotics co. with growing Houston presence closes series B

money moves

Houston- and Boston-based Square Robot Inc. closed a series B round of funding last month.

The advanced submersible robotics company raised $13 million, according to Tracxn.com, and says it will put the funds toward international expansion.

"This Series B round, our largest to date, enables us to accelerate our growth plans and meet the surging global demand for our services,” David Lamont, CEO, said in a statement.

The company aims to establish a permanent presence in Europe and the Middle East and grow its delivery services to reach four more countries and one new continent in Q1 2025.

Additionally, Square Robot plans to release a new robot early next year. The robot is expected to be able to operate in extreme temperatures up to 60 C. The company will also introduce its first AI-enabled tools to improve data collection.

Square Robot launched its Houston office in 2019. Its autonomous, submersible robots are used for storage tank inspections and eliminate the need for humans to enter dangerous and toxic environments.

The company was one of the first group of finalists for the Houston Innovation Awards' Scaleup of the Year, which honors a Bayou City company that's seen impressive growth in 2024. Click here to read more about the company's growth.

SLB awarded Petrobras contract for subsea seawater injection systems in Brazil

JV deal

Houston energy technology company SLB announced a contract award by Petrobras to its OneSubsea joint venture for two subsea raw seawater injection systems to increase recovery from the prolific Búzios field in offshore Brazil.

The subsea RWI systems will work to increase the production of floating production storage and offloading (Petrobras FPSO) vessels that are currently bottlenecked in their water injection capacities.The RWI systems, once operational, can reduce greenhouse gas emissions per barrel of oil.

“As deepwater basins mature, we see more and more secondary recovery opportunities emerging,” Mads Hjelmeland, CEO of SLB OneSubsea, says in a news release. “Subsea raw seawater injection is a well-proven application with a strong business case that we think should become mainstream. By placing the system directly on the seabed, we free up space and reduce fuel needs for the FPSOs as well as lessen the power needs for the injection systems. It’s a win-win for Petrobras, and one that we are very excited about.”

SLB OneSubsea works to “optimize oil and gas production, decarbonize subsea operations, and unlock the large potential of subsea solutions to accelerate the energy transition,” per to the company.

SLB OneSubsea is contracted to provide two complete subsea RWI systems to support Petrobras’ FPSOs P-74 and P-75. They will consist of a subsea seawater injection pump, umbilical system and topside variable speed drive. In addition,the team will also provide technical support using AI-enabled Subsea Live services, which includes condition monitoring and access to domain experts.

“This contract will consolidate our solid local content presence in the country, contributed by the largest manufacturing plants and state-of-the-art subsea service facilities in Brazil,” Hjelmeland continues.

3 things to know this week: Fervo's fresh funding, recapping 2024, and more

taking notes

Editor's note: Dive headfirst into the new week with three quick things to catch up on in Houston's energy transition.

Year in review: Rounding up 2024's recap

As the year comes to a close, EnergyCapital is looking back at the year's top stories in Houston energy transition. So far, the Year in Review section has covered top guest columns, trending research news, and more. Read each roundup below.

Fresh funding: Fervo Energy collects $255M

The deal brings Fervo's total funding secured this year to around $600 million. Photo courtesy of Fervo

A Houston company that's responding to rising energy demand by harnessing geothermal energy through its technology has again secured millions in funding. The deal brings Fervo's total funding secured this year to around $600 million.

Fervo Energy announced that it has raised $255 million in new funding and capital availability. The $135 million corporate equity round was led by Capricorn’s Technology Impact Fund II with participating investors including Breakthrough Energy Ventures, CalSTRS, Congruent Ventures, CPP Investments, DCVC, Devon Energy, Galvanize Climate Solutions, Liberty Mutual Investments, Mercuria, and Sabanci Climate Ventures.

The funding will go toward supporting Fervo's ongoing and future geothermal projects. Continue reading.

Big deal: Expro secures $10M contract

Expro has secured a $10 million contract to provide a subsea well decommissioning solution, combining subsea safety systems and surface fluid management to support safe re-entry and fluid management for plugged and abandoned wells. Photo courtesy of Expro

Houston energy services provider Expro was awarded a contract valued at over $10 million for the provision of a well decommissioning solution.

The solution will combine subsea safety systems and surface processing design that can enable safe entry to the well and management of well fluids.

“The contract reinforces our reputation as the leading provider of subsea safety systems and surface well test equipment, including within the P&A sector,” Iain Farley, Expro’s regional vice president for Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa, says in a news release. "It demonstrates our commitment to delivering best-in-class equipment, allied with the highest standards of safety and service quality that Expro is renowned for.” Continue reading.