Decarbonisation options for Large Volume Organic Chemicals Production, LyondellBasell Rotterdam

Diverse product portfolio

This report gives an overview of the production of large volume organic chemicals production and the options for decarbonisation. LyondellBasell is one of the largest chemical companies in the world, with saleable products including chemicals, polymers, fuels, and technologies. The company operates a total of three production sites and one deep-water terminal in the Port of Rotterdam. This report focuses on the Botlek and Maasvlakte sites only. The production sites have a diverse product portfolio.

These products are mainly used as intermediate chemicals, of which their derivatives are used for a wide range of applications, such as pharmaceutical products, paints and coatings, packaging materials and as gasoline additives.

Options for decarbonisation

The main options for decarbonisation can be put into four categories:

1.  Fuel Substitution - electrode boiler, hydrogen combustion, (solid) biomass combustion
2. CO₂ Capture and Storage or Re-Use – post combustion CO2 capture
3. Use of Residual Energy – Circular Steam Project, integrated heat pump in distillation columns
4. Feedstock Substitution – sustainable alternatives for ethylene, propylene and methanol.