Borealis & Partners Sign MOU to Capture and Utilize CO2 for Plastics Production

Lafarge Zementwerke, a member of LafargeHolcim Group, OMV, VERBUND and Borealis co-sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the joint planning and construction of a full-scale plant by 2030. The plant will capture CO₂ and process it into synthetic fuels, plastics or other chemicals. This innovative project significantly reduces emissions from cement production, establishing the greenhouse gas CO₂ as a valuable raw material.

Objective of Carbon2ProductAustria Project

In the MOU, Lafarge, OMV, VERBUND and Borealis agree on collaborating across industry sectors in the project ‘Carbon2ProductAustria’ (C2PAT). Its objective is to create a cross sectorial value chain and to operate a full-scale plant by 2030 which will eventually capture almost 100% of the annually emitted 700,000 tons of CO₂ at Lafarge’s cement plant in Mannersdorf, Austria. The aim is to ultimately use the captured CO₂ as a resource.

In combination with green hydrogen (from renewable energies) produced by VERBUND, the captured CO₂ will be transformed by OMV to renewable based hydrocarbons, which, in turn can be used to produce renewable based fuels or be utilized by Borealis as a feedstock to manufacture value-add plastics.

"We are committed to leading the industry in reducing carbon emissions and shifting towards low-carbon construction. We have worked consistently and successfully on the reduction of the CO₂ footprint of our cement plants, products and solutions. Ultimately, CO₂-neutral cement production can only be possible with the implementation of breakthrough technologies, like Carbon Capture, which is why we have great expectations for the C2PAT project", Lafarge CEO José Antonio Primo points out.

Moving Towards Climate Neutrality

Given that C2PAT is implemented, the 700,000 tons of CO₂ per year can be transformed into synthetic fuel by OMV. On top, the partners aim to investigate a truly circular approach: with Borealis being a key partner, the captured CO₂ can be used for the production of renewable based, value-add plastics. These plastics are especially suited for recycling at the end of their lifetime, and with this, enable a nearly closed CO₂ loop

Green Hydrogen to Decarbonize CO₂-Intensive Industries

VERBUND, Austria’s largest electricity company, will supply the green hydrogen used to recycle the captured CO₂, “Green hydrogen is produced when water is electrolyzed using electricity from renewable sources. For the Carbon2ProductAustria-Project we will use green electricity from our renewable generation portfolio,” explains Michael Strugl, deputy CEO VERBUND.

Green hydrogen offers huge potential for decarbonizing CO₂-intensive industrial processes. In order to reach national and global climate goals the companies collaborate across sectors and join their efforts for decarbonization and climate neutrality.

The success of C2PAT will largely depend on whether the right financial and regulatory framework conditions are created both at the EU and Austrian national level.

With this ambitious collaboration, Lafarge, OMV, VERBUND and Borealis are showcasing an innovative and viable solution for the transformation towards a Zero CO₂ economy in Europe.

Rainer Seele, OMV chairman of the executive board and CEO: “Climate protection requires innovation and cooperation. With this project we aim to do both, and it shows that economic viability and climate protection go hand in hand based on new technologies. CO₂ is not just a greenhouse gas that we have to reduce. It is also a valuable raw material from which we can produce synthetic fuels and feedstock for the chemical industry.”

Source: Borealis