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The three partners have joined forces to introduce a standardized modular solution that leverages Alterra’s innovative plastic liquefaction technology, aimed at organizations interested in enhancing their chemical recycling capabilities globally. As part of this collaboration, Alterra and Neste will act as technology providers, while Technip Energies will focus on designing, engineering, and delivering standardized plant solutions.
In an effort to advance plastic circularity, Neste, Alterra, and Technip Energies have formalized a collaboration agreement to offer a technology solution for chemical recycling, often referred to as “advanced recycling.” This partnership aims to provide a globally accessible, standardized modular solution that is based on Alterra’s proprietary liquefaction technology. The solution comprises pre-designed and engineered liquefaction plant modules, significantly reducing initial investment costs, speeding up implementation timelines, and ensuring predictable project economics while lowering overall capital expenditures. This approach will facilitate more efficient chemical recycling projects, enabling the industry to lessen its dependence on virgin fossil resources and promote the circular economy of polymers and chemicals.
Alterra’s technology employs a thermochemical liquefaction process that transforms difficult-to-recycle plastics into a liquid hydrocarbon product. This intermediate product can subsequently be refined into high-quality raw materials for producing new plastics and chemicals. To date, Neste has processed over 6,000 tons of plastic-derived feedstocks, including ISCC PLUS certified oil from Alterra’s facility in Akron, Ohio.
Combining Expertise for Effective Solutions
Alterra and Neste have collaborated on chemical recycling since 2021, enhancing aspects of Alterra’s technology and building respective value chains. Their partnership with Technip Energies began in 2022, culminating in this unique collaboration. Together, Alterra and Neste will license the liquefaction technology, while Technip Energies will handle the design, engineering, and delivery of standardized liquefaction plant solutions to interested parties around the world.
Frederic Schmuck, CEO of Alterra Energy, stated, “We have a proven liquefaction technology built on 15 years of research, development, and improvement. Our goal is to lower the barriers for companies eager to invest in liquefaction, essentially offering a copy-paste solution for constructing liquefaction plants and enabling rapid scaling of economically viable recycling capacities worldwide.”
Andreas Teir, responsible for chemical recycling at Neste, added, “The demand for sustainable solutions is significant, and we are poised to meet it. We have established our role in converting circular feedstocks into high-quality raw materials for the petrochemical sector, and we aim to increase these processed volumes in the near future. We look forward to providing a robust and easily deployable liquefaction technology to support our growing demand for liquefied waste plastics.”
Bhaskar Patel, Senior Vice President of Sustainable Fuels, Chemicals & Circularity at Technip Energies, remarked, “We have observed a rising trend in the circularity market favoring lower pre-investment costs and proven, operational technology, while allowing adopters to meet their 2030 climate commitments. We are excited to support the market with Alterra’s validated technology, enhanced by Neste, along with our standardized modular solution—both of which are crucial for scalable projects. We are confident that this initiative, coupled with Neste’s strong market presence and the increasing need for liquefied waste plastics, will expedite the establishment of new chemical recycling capacities.”
About Neste
Neste (NESTE, Nasdaq Helsinki) leverages science and innovative technology to convert waste and other resources into renewable fuels and circular raw materials, contributing to the fight against climate change and promoting a circular economy. As the world’s leading producer of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel, and a pioneer in renewable and circular feedstock solutions for polymers and chemicals, Neste aims to assist its clients in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20 million tons annually by 2030. The company’s ambition includes transforming its Porvoo oil refinery in Finland into the most sustainable refinery in Europe and achieving carbon-neutral production by 2035.
About Alterra
Alterra specializes in developing, operating, and licensing a thermochemical liquefaction technology that revitalizes discarded plastics into their original components, thereby minimizing reliance on new, fossil-derived materials for manufacturing new plastic products. Its facility in Akron, Ohio, is the only full-scale, continuous plant of its kind. By deploying its technology globally, Alterra is dedicated to solving plastic pollution.
About Technip Energies
Technip Energies is a premier Engineering & Technology company committed to facilitating the energy transition. With leading positions in LNG, hydrogen, and ethylene, as well as growing involvement in blue and green hydrogen, sustainable chemistry, and CO2 management, Technip Energies is well-equipped to bring innovative projects to fruition. The company operates in 34 countries and employs approximately 16,000 people dedicated to accelerating the energy transition for a sustainable future.
