Technip Energies and LanzaTech announced on December 18 that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has committed up to $200 million in funding for their Sustainable Ethylene from CO2 Utilization with Renewable Energy (SECURE) Project. This ambitious project aims to revolutionize ethylene production by integrating carbon capture with renewable energy sources.

Project SECURE will utilize LanzaTech's innovative carbon recycling technology to capture and convert carbon dioxide emissions from ethylene production into valuable ethanol and ethylene. This circular approach minimizes waste and significantly reduces the carbon footprint of the process.

The initial phase of the project will involve a Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) study and environmental impact assessments. Subsequent phases will focus on construction and operation of a commercial-scale integrated technology unit at an existing ethylene cracker in the U.S. Gulf Coast region.

The DOE's funding will be crucial in advancing this groundbreaking technology and accelerating its deployment across the globe. With over 370 ethylene steam crackers worldwide, many of which utilize Technip Energies' technology, the potential impact of Project SECURE is substantial.

Arnaud Pieton, CEO at Technip Energies, stated “We are pleased to receive the Phase 1 award from the OCED and begin the engineering design work to progress the development of this innovative technology. The global population is expected to continue to rise by 2050, bringing with it a greater demand for consumer goods that rely on ethylene. While addressing this growing demand, we absolutely need to decarbonize ethylene production. We not only need to do something about carbon but very importantly with carbon. That is what our partnership with LanzaTech on this technology is all about. Leveraging our long-lasting leadership in ethylene, we are committed, together with LanzaTech, to develop this technology at scale and continue to explore ways to decarbonize ethylene production.”

Dr. Jennifer Holmgren, Chair and CEO of LanzaTech stated, “We are thrilled to reach this milestone and commence work on this important project. Ethylene is a key building block for thousands of chemicals and materials, and is often referred to as the world’s most important chemical. Our project not only increases the efficiency and value of existing ethylene production infrastructure, but also creates high-quality jobs and supports local communities. Circularizing our global carbon economy requires combining ambition with action, and we are grateful for the shared vision and support of the OCED to advance this replicable technology, strengthening our domestic manufacturing base for valuable commodities.”

This project aligns with the DOE's mission to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy and demonstrates the power of public-private partnerships in driving innovation and addressing critical environmental challenges.