Page 157 - CW E-Magazine (18-6-2024)

News from Abroad

SCALING UP
Shell and UK’s Ceres strengthen partnership to design

pressurised solid oxide electrolysers for green hydrogen

Ceres Power Holdings, a UK-based tion system at Shell’s R&D facility
based fuel cell developer, said it has in Bangalore.
been awarded a further contract for
the second phase of its collaboration “Our strategic collaboration with
with oil major Shell to cooperate in the Shell continues to provide valuable in-
design of a pressurised solid-oxide sights, ensuring Ceres’ SOEC techno-
electrolyser (SOE) module. logy is well positioned to meet our part-
ners’ needs for the green hydrogen and
These modules, which can be co- synthetic fuels markets,” said Mr. Phil
located with high-heat industries – such natives, they also require an external Caldwell, Ceres’ CEO. The company
as ammonia, synthetic fuel production, source of heat, generally operating in added that the programme will use key
and green steelmaking, can produce the 500-850°C temperature range. learnings and data being harvested from
30% more hydrogen per kilowatt-hour the existing one-megawatt demonstra-
of electricity than conventional equip- “The focus of this contract is to deve- tion project to develop a commercially
ment. lop a pressurised module design that competitive and scalable solution. It
can be scaled to hundreds of megawatts said that the project will examine pres-
While solid oxide electrolysers – and be integrated with industrial plants surised systems that can drive further
which are not normally pressurised – to produce sustainable future fuels,” efficiency, performance, and integra-
are extremely efficient when it comes Ceres said in a press release. It added tion with other processes, targeting a
to electricity input for green hydrogen that Ceres has been working with Shell module level efficiency of less than 36-
production compared to alkaline and since 2022, leading to the deployment kWh/kg of hydrogen, which aligns to
proton exchange membrane (PEM) alter- of a one-megawatt SOEC demonstra- EU SOE 2030 technology targets.

BASF’s bioenergy enzymes business sold

to Lallemand

BASF has sold its bioenergy fermentation ingredients and technical said Mr. Angus Ballard, President and
enzymes business based in San Diego solutions, and this acquisition demon- General Manager of LBDS.
to Danstar Ferment AG and Lallemand strates LBDS’s commitment to the fuel
Specialties Inc. – subsidiaries of Lalle- ethanol and alcohol industries. LBDS “Lallemand is the best owner for the
mand, the Canada-based specialist in has partnered with BASF’s bioenergy bioenergy enzymes business. Their dedi-
production of yeast, bacteria and specia- business since 2017, jointly developing cation to the biofuel industry, along with
lity ingredients. Financial details of the the expression of gluco and alpha their complementary portfolio and global
deal were not disclosed. amylase enzymes in bioengineered presence, will create new opportunities
yeast, now widely used in the North for growth,” added Mr. Daniel Wilms,
The deal includes the Spartec pro- American ethanol production market. Vice President Strategy, Innovation &
duct portfolio and related technologies in “We see the capabilities of BASF’s Sustainability at BASF’s Nutrition &
development. Lallemand will integrate bioenergy team and its Spartec pro- Health division. BASF said it will remain
the business and associated employees ducts and pipeline technologies as highly focused on its enzyme activities in the
in its Lallemand Biofuels & Distilled complementary with ours. By combin- animal feed and detergents markets. It will
Spirits (LBDS) business unit. ing resources and R&D programmes, continue to provide agronomic solutions
we will be even better placed to meet for farmers to produce low-carbon inten-
LBDS is a leading global supplier of our global customers’ requirements,” sity crops for the bioenergy industry.

Chemical Weekly June 18, 2024 157

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