Technip Energies accelerating bio-polyester production

Technip Energies, an engineering and technology company based in France, has announced a technology transfer agreement it says will accelerate the commercialization of its Bio-2-Glycols technology for biobased monoethylene glycol (MEG) production from glucose.

MEG traditionally is produced using fossil-based feedstock to make various types of polyesters for packaging materials like plastic bottles and in clothing apparel. With its acquisition, Technip intends to offer a biobased polyester solution. By using a bio-sourced monomer, Technip says its Bio-2-Glycols technology allows for polyesters to be produced with a lower carbon footprint and less environmental impact.

“We are pleased to have completed this agreement, which allows us to propose an optimized, combined solution to make bio-MEG, a common feedstock for various everyday life applications,” Technip Chief Technology Officer Wei Cai says. “We are confident about rapidly commercializing our Bio-2-Glycols technology. Our objective is to offer this technology in 2025, which will contribute significantly to the net-zero challenge.”

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Through the technology transfer agreement, Technip will combine Shell’s research and development results with Technip’s bio-MEG technology to offer what it says is a more efficient, biobased MEG technology to the market. The new combined technology will be commercialized under the Bio-2-Glycols trademark.

“We’re excited to announce this agreement with Technip Energies, combining our respective technologies to enhance and accelerate the commercialization of Bio-2-Glycols," Shell Catalysts & Technologies President Elise H. Nowee says. "By integrating Technip Energies’ expertise with our own development work on Bio-2-Glycols, we’re poised to expedite the deployment of sustainable alternatives to fossil-based feedstocks, driving innovation, and together, paving a way for a more efficient and sustainable solution in this area.”