ABB has entered a supply agreement with biopolymer maker Citroniq to provide automation, electrification and digitalisation systems for its 100 per cent biogenic PP facility in Nebraska.
The facility is scheduled to start operating in 2029 and will produce fully certified biogenic PP from the established corn-based ethanol industry in the US. It is believed it will be the first full commercial-scale facility of its kind in the world.
Citroniq’s strategy is to create a more sustainable plastics manufacturing platform in the US and reduce emissions in the hard-to-abate plastics sector.
It claims to be able to produce the world’s only carbon negative PP using locally-produced ethanol and proven technologies in a unique configuration. Citroniq said its E2O process greatly reduces greenhouse gas emissions, permanently sequesters carbon into a useful plastics pellet, and helps companies reach their net-zero goals.
At full capacity, the three-plant platform in Nebraska is expected to have the potential to decarbonise the US domestic PP production by 20 per cent, according to Citroniq. The first facility will convert corn-based ethanol into PP, capturing 3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year and permanently storing it as solid pellets.
‘A critical step’
“Our collaboration with ABB is a critical step to building an advanced world-class manufacturing facility that transforms the plastics industry,” said Mel Badheka, president and co-founder of Citroniq.
“We worked with ABB from early on in the process due to their leadership in automation and their expertise, which is required for such a project.”
Upon final investment decision, ABB will deliver its ABB Ability System 800xA distributed control system, along with process control, digital simulation, electrical equipment, instrumentation and engineering services to optimise design, delivery and operations at the plant.
“We are proud to collaborate on this complex project, bringing our technology and expertise to enable the development of a low-carbon manufacturing infrastructure in the US,” said Per Erik Holsten, president of ABB’s Energy Industries division.
“Through our integrated automation and electrification solutions, we aim to help Citroniq achieve safe, efficient and reliable operations to support the decarbonisation of a hard-to-abate sector.”
