Green ammonia, produced from renewable energy, is an excellent fuel and fertilizer that can potentially replace significant volumes of fossil fuels and help accelerate the transition to a world powered by renewable energy. A partnership of industry leaders now announces an ambition to realize this potential as soon as in 2022 with the world’s first green ammonia plant at the commercial scale of 10 MW power.
The 2020 that is drawing to a close has been a really tough year for the world population. The pandemic has exposed many of the limitations of our economic and social model. It’s time for a profound change that cannot ignore the circular and sustainable bioeconomy. The circular bioeconomy is innovation, the result of the skills and passion of researchers and managers able to create value and new high-qualified jobs, reconciling economy, society and the environment. At the end of 2014 Il Bioeconomista launched a new initiative: The 10 Most Innovative Bioeconomy CEOs.
We have asked a panel of world bioeconomy experts to tell us the Chief Executive Officers that have stood out as the most innovative during the last year.
Now we ask you to choose the most innovative CEO responding to our survey (open till December 11 at 7.30 am, Western European Time).
The most innovative CEO 2016 was Ken Richards (CEO of Leaf Resources, Australia)
The most innovative CEO 2017 was Tony Duncan (CEO of Circa Group, Australia)
The most innovative CEO 2018 was Jürgen Eck (CEO of BRAIN AG, Germany)
The most innovative CEO 2019 was Alex Michine (CEO of MetGen, Finland)
This is the result of 2020 (in alphabetical order)
Catia Bastioli, Novamont (Italy)
Veronique de Bruijn, Photanol (Netherlands)
Jennifer Holmgren, LanzaTech (USA)
Matt Lipscomb, DMC Bio (USA)
Christophe Schilling, Genomatica (USA)
Simão Soares, SilicoLife (Portugal)
Marcus Steilemann, Covestro (Germany)
David Sudolsky, Anellotech (USA)
Peter Vanacker, Neste (Finland)
Sytze van Stempvoort, Peelpioneers (Netherlands)
Versalis enters the market for bio-based products in the agriculture sector for the protection of crops. Thanks to an agreement with AlphaBio Control, a research and development company with offices in the United Kingdom and Italy specialised in the production of natural formulations for the protection of crops with its products already known in the pesticides market, Eni’s chemical company will develop bio-based and biodegradable herbicides and also biocides for the disinfection of surfaces, using as active ingredient productions from the bio-chemical platform in Porto Torres, Sardinia.
Perstorp, a global leader in the specialty chemicals market, has developed a production concept to produce methanol from a large variety of recovered end-of-life streams and hydrogen from electrolysis.
Clean manufacturing leader Genomatica signed a first-of-its-kind deal with Aquafil to build a demonstration scale facility to produce the largest quantity of 100% renewable nylon-6 ever available. Responding to surging consumer interest in sustainable products, the material will go to leading global brands eager to explore and develop renewable products, create showcase goods and test feedback with customers. The deal is a 50-fold expansion over previous production levels and represents significant acceleration toward commercializing renewably-sourced nylon-6 — a material that is poised to reshape a $960 billion textile industry that touches millions of lives every day, from the carpet we walk on to the clothes we wear.
Nouryon has introduced a sustainable, salt-free adjuvant for customers in the global agricultural market. Adsee AMP40 is biodegradable and an all-in-one product that offers a more cost-efficient solution for customers.
Total signed a strategic framework agreement with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), to explore joint research, development and deployment partnership opportunities in the areas of CO2 emission reductions and carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS).
Alfa Laval, biofuel producer MASH Energy and shipowner DFDS entered into a collaboration, funded in part by Shipping Lab, a Danish non-profit initiative focused on smart shipping. “Two 25 m3 tanks have been installed at the centre, one of which is stainless steel and dedicated for testing of biofuels and other new fuel types,” said Lars Bo Andersen, Alfa Laval Test & Training Centre Manager. “New fuel alternatives are constantly being introduced to the marine industry, but the knowledge about their behaviour in marine fuel systems is limited. We want to extend that knowledge through testing, beginning with biofuels.”
Scottish cleantech innovators Celtic Renewables launched its Crowdcube funding campaign on the back of investor appetite to fund companies with environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors. With commissioning of Celtic Renewables’ biorefinery in Scotland – the first of its kind in the UK – on track for Spring 2021, and on the back of £30 million funding already raised; the business is poised to play a pivotal role in the UK’s transition to net-zero economy.
“The use of renewable biological sources is a key element for Indena, when sourcing a biomass for the development and manufacturing of a botanical ingredient”. To say this – in this interview with Il Bioeconomista – is Stefano Togni, Business Development Director at Indena, Milan-based multinational leading company dedicated to the identification, development and production of high quality active principles derived from plants, for use in the pharmaceutical and health food industries. He talks with us about Indena’s main business, the company’s role in the BBI JU Demo project Grace and the sustainable development policies after the pandemic.
Interview by Mario Bonaccorso
IL BIOECONOMISTA 