CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT, PRODUCTS AND TECHNOLOGIES
Prnewswire | April 25, 2023
CF Industries Holdings, Inc., the world's largest producer of ammonia, and NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, the world's largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun and a world leader in battery storage, announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a joint venture to develop a zero-carbon-intensity hydrogen project at CF Industries' Verdigris Complex in Oklahoma.
The proposed project was included in the funding application submitted to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) this month by the HALO Hydrogen Hub, a three-state effort established by Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma to compete for funding from the DOE's regional clean hydrogen hub program. CF Industries and NextEra Energy Resources anticipate that support for the project from the DOE program will be a key aspect of their evaluation process. A final investment decision has not been made for this project.
The proposed project envisions a jointly owned 100-megawatt (MW) electrolysis plant at the Verdigris Complex that would be powered by a dedicated 450-MW renewable energy facility developed by NextEra Energy Resources. CF Industries would be the sole offtaker of 100% of the zero-carbon green hydrogen output from the site's electrolyzers. The green hydrogen would be used to produce up to 100,000 tons per year of zero-carbon green ammonia, which would be facilitated by debottlenecking Verdigris' ammonia plants. CF Industries expects the resulting green ammonia production to support the transition of American agriculture to low- and zero-carbon fertilizers, helping to remove up to 130,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions from the agriculture supply chain each year.
"The use of decarbonized ammonia in agriculture offers the most certain, quantifiable and verifiable way to reduce the lifecycle carbon footprint of the food we eat," said Tony Will, president and chief executive officer, CF Industries Holdings, Inc. "We are pleased to work with NextEra Energy Resources to explore how best green hydrogen could help accelerate the adoption of low- and zero-carbon ammonia and ammonia-derived nitrogen fertilizers in the United States and contribute to decarbonizing the agriculture supply chain."
"NextEra Energy Resources is committed to leading the decarbonization of the American economy, and the agriculture industry is fundamental to that goal," said Rebecca Kujawa, president and chief executive officer of NextEra Energy Resources. "We are honored to work with CF Industries to bring green hydrogen production to its Verdigris Complex while also creating additional jobs and economic benefits for the state of Oklahoma."
About CF Industries Holdings, Inc.
At CF Industries, our mission is to provide clean energy to feed and fuel the world sustainably. With our employees focused on safe and reliable operations, environmental stewardship, and disciplined capital and corporate management, we are on a path to decarbonize our ammonia production network – the world's largest – to enable green and blue hydrogen and nitrogen products for energy, fertilizer, emissions abatement and other industrial activities. Our manufacturing complexes in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, an unparalleled storage, transportation and distribution network in North America, and logistics capabilities enabling a global reach underpin our strategy to leverage our unique capabilities to accelerate the world's transition to clean energy. CF Industries routinely posts investor announcements and additional information on the Company's website at www.cfindustries.com and encourages those interested in the Company to check there frequently.
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PRODUCTS AND TECHNOLOGIES
Businesswire | June 09, 2023
Clean Energy Fuels Corp. the largest provider of the cleanest fuel for the transportation market, announced a slew of new deals with several well-known consumer brands and some of the nation’s largest and most environmentally-conscious transit agencies.
Liberty Coca-Cola, one of the country’s largest bottlers and distributors of Coke and other brands and serving the Northeast U.S., has signed a fueling contract with Clean Energy to power trucks in New York and Philadelphia with renewable natural gas (RNG). These are its first trucks to operate on RNG, a sustainable fuel made from organic waste that significantly reduces carbon emissions by an average of 300% versus diesel.
“Liberty Coca-Cola strives to be the best corporate citizen we can be in the communities where we do business, and having a cleaner-operating and more sustainable fleet with RNG is a good way to that,” said Stanley Walker, distribution manager, Liberty Coca-Cola. “RNG reduces carbon emissions and improves air quality easily and cost-effectively.”
Electrolux North America, a leading global home appliance company, has signed a fueling agreement with Clean Energy for an estimated 200,000 gallons of RNG to be used by new trucks from a contracted carrier that will fuel at Clean Energy’s station in Ontario, CA.
Recology, a waste management company, has inked new and extended RNG supply and maintenance contracts for an anticipated 800,000 and 6.5 million gallons respectively. Recology stations in Gilroy, Brisbane, and Davis, CA support more than 150 RNG trucks. Additionally, Recology has contracted Clean Energy to build a new RNG station In Snohomish, WA that is projected to fuel 30 trucks.
Long-time customer and an early adopter of RNG, the Big Blue Bus in Santa Monica, CA has signed a maintenance agreement for its fleet of 195 transit buses that fuels with an anticipated 7.5 million gallons of RNG. In 2015, Big Blue Bus became one of the country's first municipal transit agencies to convert its entire fleet to RNG. Nationally recognized for its long-standing commitment to a cleaner environment, Big Blue Bus transports 44,000 passengers daily across a 58-square-mile service area.
“We count Big Blue Bus as one of our most important customers because the leadership role the transit agency plays in tackling the issues of clean air and climate change,” said Chad Lindholm, Clean Energy Senior Vice President. “Fueling their fleet of buses with RNG provides immediate and significant carbon reductions, while improving air quality for people who live in and around the community of Santa Monica.”
“Our longstanding partnership with Clean Energy helps us deliver on our mission to provide affordable and sustainable transportation, while creating healthier, more livable communities. Further, our adoption of renewable natural gas aligns with our strategic goal to implement a full zero-emissions fleet by 2030,” said Ed King, director, Santa Monica Department of Transportation.
Clean Energy has been contracted by Gold Coast Transit to maintain its station in Oxnard, CA which uses an estimated 4 million gallons of RNG for 82 transit buses.
Channel Island Dairy Farms has signed a contract for an estimated 300,000 gallons of RNG for heavy-duty trucks operating in the Corcoran, CA area.
The Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority has signed a maintenance agreement with Clean Energy for its Birmingham, AL station. The station is expected to use an anticipated 2 million gallons of fuel for 186 transit buses.
The City of Tucson has signed a maintenance agreement with Clean Energy to support its fleet operations. The station uses an anticipated 2 million gallons of fuel to power 150 transit buses and refuse trucks.
Valley Regional Transit in Boise, ID has inked a maintenance agreement with Clean Energy. The station uses an expected 1.7 million gallons of fuel to power its fleet of 30 transit buses.
Grand Canyon National Park, AZ has signed an agreement with Clean Energy to maintain its station. The station is anticipated to provide 1.5 million gallons of fuel for 30 park shuttle buses.
Sweeping Corporation of America, the nation's largest power sweeping company, has signed a contract for a projected 250,000 gallons of fuel to power 78 trucks in Northern and Southern California.
Campbell’s Trucking Company in Tacoma, WA has signed a fueling deal for an expected 300,000 gallons of fuel for 15 heavy-duty trucks.
About Clean Energy
Clean Energy Fuels Corp. is the country’s largest provider of the cleanest fuel for the transportation market. Our mission is to decarbonize transportation through the development and delivery of renewable natural gas (RNG), a sustainable fuel derived from organic waste. Clean Energy allows thousands of vehicles, from airport shuttles to city buses to waste and heavy-duty trucks, to reduce their amount of climate-harming greenhouse gas. We operate a vast network of fueling stations across the U.S. and Canada.
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CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT, MARKET OUTLOOK
Businesswire | May 03, 2023
Cabot Corporation announced the launch of its new ENTERA™ aerogel particles portfolio. ENTERA aerogel particles are a thermal insulation additive designed to enable the development of ultra-thin thermal barriers for electric vehicle (EV) lithium-ion batteries. In this portfolio, Cabot has launched three ENTERA aerogel products that formulators can incorporate into a range of thermal barrier forms including blankets, pads, sheets, films, foams and coatings.
Vehicle fleets are increasingly transitioning from internal combustion engines to EVs. To meet increased EV demand, battery manufacturers are working diligently to develop higher performing lithium-ion battery packs with increased range. These higher energy batteries require more advanced thermal management solutions, including thermal barriers to mitigate thermal runaway, a rare event in which a battery cell overheats to dangerous levels and the heat propagates to neighboring cells within the module or battery pack due to malfunction or damage. As a result of the potential severe risks from an EV battery fire, additional regulations, such as the United Nations’ Global Technical Regulation 20 on Electric Vehicle Safety (UN GTR No. 20) and China’s GB 38031-2020, have been implemented to maximize occupant safety. Aerogel has emerged as a leading, performance-enabling thermal barrier material that is enabling EV manufacturers to meet critical industry safety standards.
Cabot’s ENTERA aerogel products not only help battery and EV manufacturers comply with these new regulations, but they also provide a lightweight thermal barrier solution that offers low thermal conductivity combined with thermal stability. The Cabot ENTERA aerogel particles portfolio ranges in size from microns to millimeters and includes ENTERA™ EV5200 aerogel, ENTERA™ EV5400 aerogel and ENTERA™ EV5800 aerogel.
Furthermore, with greater than 90 percent air volume, Cabot’s ENTERA aerogel is up to 20 times lighter than traditional insulation additives used in thermal barriers. Using lightweight materials in EVs is important to offset the weight of EV batteries as well as to improve efficiency, extend driving range and increase the lifespan of the battery.
“We have been producing aerogel for 20 years and the expansion of our aerogel capabilities for use in thermal barriers for batteries is a natural progression in our commitment to support the tremendous growth of the battery market,” said Jeff Zhu, executive vice president and president, Performance Chemicals segment and Asia Pacific region. “Our new ENTERA aerogel particles provide strong formulation flexibility and play an important role in improving passenger safety, energy efficiency and extended range for EVs. We are committed to developing solutions that solve some of the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges and with these new products, we are well positioned to further support the global transition to vehicle electrification and enable a lower carbon future.”
Cabot has a full range of products that serves the EV battery market. It is the only global manufacturer with a complete conductive additives product portfolio for battery applications, including conductive carbons, carbon nanotubes, and carbon nanostructures, as well as blends and dispersions of these additives to deliver optimal performance. Conductive additives play a critical role in lithium-ion battery chemistry and provide a pathway for electrons to move within the anode and the cathode which enables charging and discharging. Additionally, Cabot offers fumed alumina for separator and cathode active material coatings.
ABOUT CABOT CORPORATION
Cabot Corporation is a global specialty chemicals and performance materials company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. The company is a leading provider of reinforcing carbons, specialty carbons, battery materials, engineered elastomer composites, inkjet colorants, masterbatches and conductive compounds, fumed metal oxides and aerogel.
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