Photanol to build a CO2-to-chemicals demo plant at AkzoNobel site in Delfzijl
Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF.
In early 2017, the Blog featured the profile of
one of the most promising companies in the field of algal biorefining: “Photanol
- Cyanobacteria for the next generation of biobased chemicals”. The last
section of that post highlighted its plans for the construction of a multi-use
demonstration plant in the near future (2018-2019). Last Friday, Photanol and AkzoNobel
announced that the planned facility will be built at AkzoNobel Specialty
Chemicals’ Delfzijl site.
AkzoNobel press release: “Photanol
to build demonstration plant to make chemicals from CO2 and sunlight at
AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals’ Delfzijl site”.
Photanol press release: “Photanol
BV to build demonstration plant at AkzoNobel site in Delfzijl”.
Figure 1. Cyanobacteria (extracted from
Photanol website)
The companies formed a partnership in 2014 to
jointly work on a technology using cyanobacteria that mimics the way plants use
photosynthesis to produce chemical building blocks (for instance, organic acids)
from carbon dioxide. These have applications in biodegradable plastics,
personal care products and as intermediates for the chemical industry.
Photanol has closed a substantial new financing
round (8 M€) to the demonstration of its technology. The commitment of new
shareholders (GROEIfonds, Innovatiefonds Noord-Nederland and Investeringsfonds
Groningen) as well as the continued support of the Dutch Government and
existing shareholders (UvA Ventures Holding and Icos Capital) allow for the
construction of the plant. It is expected to be operational in 2020.