Clariant Catalysts and Shanghai Electric forge alliance to advance China's energy transition

Shanghai Electric’s biomass-to-green methanol plant in China, started up successfully using Clariant´s MegaMax methanol synthesis catalysts

Clariant, a sustainability-focused specialty chemical company, announced that it has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Shanghai Boiler Works, a full subsidiary of Shanghai Electric, specializing in energy conversion and the development of new energy applications, to jointly foster innovation in sustainable energy solutions.

The partners will combine their expertise to advance green energy projects in China. The agreement is the result of close and successful cooperation in Shanghai Electric’s new biomass-to-green methanol plant in Taonan, Jilin Province, China.

In addition to supplying its MegaMax catalysts, Clariant provided technical on-site support during the successful startup of the 50,000 tons/y plant. The second phase of the project, with a capacity of 200,000 tons/y green methanol and 10,000 tons/y SAF, is expected to start production in 2027. The ceremony for the official signing of the partnership contract took place last week at the Clariant Innovation Center in Frankfurt, Germany.

The strategic cooperation agreement will unite Shanghai Electric’s process competence and plant design capabilities with Clariant’s catalyst expertise. The scope of the agreement includes collaborative research and development, engineering design services, supply of chemical equipment, and turnkey solutions.