Vioneo appoints Wood to design world’s first industrial scale fossil-free plastics facility

Vioneo has awarded Wood, a global leader in consulting and engineering, a multi-million dollar FEED contract to deliver the front-end engineering design for its revolutionary plant which will produce fossil-free plastics using green methanol. Based in Antwerp, Belgium, the renewably powered and energy efficient plant will be the first facility in the world capable of achieving this at industrial scale.

The plant will have the capacity to produce 300 kilotonnes per annum (ktpa) of high-quality, virgin polyethylene and polypropylene plastics made from green methanol and free of fossil feedstock.

These plastics will be fully traceable, segregated and carbon negative, enabling customers to reduce Scope 3 emissions. In addition, the production of these plastics does not affect the feedstock supply for food production, ensuring the project is sustainable.

Wood will apply its extensive experience in delivering sustainable and innovative engineering solutions to large-scale energy transition projects.

"Vioneo is driving the transition of the plastics industry by demonstrating the economic viability of large-scale, cleaner production using green methanol instead of fossil fuels. This initiative offers Europe the opportunity to lead the €5 trillion chemicals and materials sector's defossilisation. Our collaboration with Wood is a crucial step in realising this vision,” said Alex Hogan, Chief Executive Officer, Vioneo.

Gerry Traynor, President of Eastern Hemisphere Projects at Wood said, “Demand for fossil-free plastics in Europe is growing and Vioneo is developing an exciting project that will accelerate the decarbonisation of Europe’s plastics sector. Wood’s strong track record of delivering world-first projects of this size and scale will support Vioneo’s ambitions of becoming the leading producer of fossil-free plastics in Europe.”

Vioneo is owned by A.P. Moller Holding, the investment arm of A.P. Moller Group and was launched as part of its commitment to advancing green methanol production and promoting sustainable practices in the plastics industry.