20-12-2024

John Cockerill, Johnson Matthey and ETFuels strategic partnership for e-methanol project in Texas

John Cockerill will provide 210MW of its advanced pressurised alkaline electrolyser units, along with technical services as the foundation for the Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) phase for the green hydrogen facility to be constructed in Texas. This project will benefit from John Cockerill’s local manufacturing and support capabilities, as the Group has invested in a Gigafactory in Texas to develop and produce its electrolysers in the USA.

Johnson Matthey - a global leader in sustainable technologies - will supply its advanced eMERALDTM e-methanol technology, along with the eMERALD methanol synthesis catalyst, for ETFuels' first U.S. project. This technology also forms the basis of the FEED phase for the fully integrated e-methanol facility.

Accelerating towards hyperscale
By 2029, ETFuels will produce 120,000 tonnes of e-methanol annually from co-located 500 MW high-capacity renewable energy resources, together with biogenic CO₂ at this state-of-the-art plant. The plant will span an impressive 22,000 acres in Texas and will pave the way for development of ETFuels’ broader portfolio of sites across Texas, Spain and Finland - some of the best locations in the world to produce e-fuels. The Financial Investment Decision for the first project is expected in 2026, with construction scheduled to start by or before 2027.  The project is expected to create approximately 500 construction jobs, with more than 50 permanent operating roles upon completion. Total investment is expected to be over a billion dollars.

Ultra-low carbon e-methanol for decarbonisation of heavy industry
ETFuels’ ultra-low carbon intensity e-methanol unlocks multiple pathways for industrial decarbonisation, including the production of e-SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) through methanol-to-jet technology, as well as numerous chemical applications. With FuelEU regulation incentivising early adoption of e-fuels, particularly for shipping, ETFuels’ e-methanol, with emissions as low as 8.7 gCO₂e/MJ, offers a compelling solution, offering a 91% reduction in CO2 relative to conventional fuel. This enables shipping companies to reduce compliance costs by half, trade credits, and deliver green transportation services to end customers. E-methanol from the plant is expected to result in the avoidance of approximately 200,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year, equivalent to planting a forest the size of 13,000 football fields.

Statements from leadership
Nicolas de Coignac, Group Executive Vice President and President Hydrogen Americas at John Cockerill, said: “Backed by long-standing expertise in the field, worldwide references on large-scale projects and global presence, our Group, which has been active in the energy sector in the United States since 1840, is delighted to join forces with strong partners such as ETFuels for this first major green hydrogen project in America. The scalability of ETFuels’ model makes them a strong partner to accelerate towards robust GW-scale green hydrogen projects. We are delighted to work with the team on bringing their first Texas-based project to fruition from the start of the journey”

Alberto Giovanzana, Managing Director of CT Licensing at Johnson Matthey, commented: “e-methanol is fast emerging as a key gamechanger solution for decarbonising the global shipping industry in the years ahead. It’s a heavy industry with a large footprint and lower carbon fuels will be vital in reducing its impact. We’re delighted to combine Johnson Matthey’s long-held expertise in e-methanol technology with the scale of ambition that ETFuels is bringing to the table.”

Lara Naqushbandi, CEO of ETFuels, added: “With stringent FuelEU regulation in place and increasing demands for genuine supply chain decarbonisation, we see a strong business case for scalable, low cost, ultra low emission fuels, particularly for early adopter customers who can benefit both economically and reputationally. To that end, we are really excited to partner with John Cockerill and Johnson Matthey - world-leaders in hydrogen and methanol technologies - as part of the ETFuels integrated project team, to bring these fuels to market at scale. Johnson Matthey brings world-class technology, extensive e-methanol operating experience, and exceptional engineering expertise. John Cockerill provides proven technology and industrial services experience to help the long-term performance of the plant.”