In Poland, ORLEN Południe, a member of ORLEN Group, intends to realize a full-scale commercial plant for the production of cellulosic ethanol using Clariant's sunliquid technology at its Jedlicze site in Poland.
Clariant International Ltd, a Switzerland-headed specialty chemical company, and ORLEN Południe, a member of ORLEN Group, which is a leader in the fuels and energy markets and the largest player in Central and Eastern Europe, have signed a license agreement on sunliquid cellulosic ethanol technology.
The announcement represents a significant strategic milestone for Clariant as this second license agreement for its sunliquid technology is “another successful step” to commercialize its highly innovative and sustainable biomass conversion technology.
In addition, the company has its own 50 000 tonne-per-annum plant currently under construction in Podari, Romania.
We are excited by the continued interest in our sunliquid cellulosic ethanol technology and proud to have signed this second license agreement. It shows that our long-term strategic commitment to innovation and sustainability can deliver additional growth above and beyond Clariant’s current strong portfolio, said Hans Bohnen, Clariant’s Chief Operating Officer.
Use agricultural residues
For ORLEN Południe, the agreement supports the intention to realize a full-scale commercial plant for the production of cellulosic ethanol from agricultural residues, which will further solidify the company’s position as a forerunner in the Polish biofuels and bio-component technologies.
In line with our strategy, we consistently develop and strengthen the Group companies, including ORLEN Południe. We invest in modern technologies and focus on high-margin products, as they will be crucial to maintaining our leading position in the region in the coming years. At the same time, we do not forget about corporate social responsibility and we apply solutions that significantly mitigate our environmental impact, said Daniel Obajtek, President of the PKN ORLEN Management Board.
The license agreement enables ORLEN Południe to use Clariant’s sunliquid technology for the project development and plant operation it is planning to execute at its Jedlicze site in southeastern Poland, utilizing available land and the integration potential with the existing Jedlicze petroleum refinery.
It is planned that the annual cellulosic ethanol production capacity will be 25 000 tonnes.
