Coolbrook And SABIC Form Cooperation To Decarbonise Ethylene Production

SABIC and Coolbrook to cooperate in the piloting of Coolbrook’s transformational RDR technology for decarbonised ethylene production

Coolbrook, a transformational technology and engineering company, and SABIC, a global leader in the chemicals industry, have entered a cooperation for the piloting of Coolbrook’s patented RotoDynamic Reactor (RDR) technology.

As part of the cooperation, SABIC will assess Coolbrook's large-scale pilot project in the Netherlands.

Steam cracking to produce ethylene, propylene, and other valuable chemicals is one of the most energy intensive and CO2 emitting industrial processes globally. With Coolbrook’s patented RDR technology, it is possible to replace the burning of fossil fuels with electrification in steam crackers to reduce global CO2 emissions by approximately 300 million tons annually. In addition, the RDR technology improves energy efficiency and increases ethylene yield by up to 20% compared to traditional cracker technologies.

Electrification is one of the key pathways in SABIC’s global roadmap to reach climate neutral operations by 2050. SABIC will assess the potential for industrial deployment of Coolbrook’s RDR technology at SABIC’s production sites.

Joonas Rauramo, CEO of Coolbrook, said: “SABIC is a global leader in petrochemicals production, and we have already established a close cooperation relationship in the Sittard-Geleen area, where both companies have strong presence. We are confident that together we can have a significant impact on reducing the climate impact from ethylene production in the Netherlands and globally.”

Ilpo Kuokkanen, Executive Chairman of Coolbrook, said: “SABIC is an excellent addition to our comprehensive and responsive partnership ecosystem spanning leading industrial actors, academic institutions, and the public sector. Collaborating with the ecosystem, we aim to make Coolbrook technology the new global standard in industrial electrification.”

Aruna Subramanian, Managing Director, SABIC Ventures, said, “This reaffirms SABIC’s commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2050 through, among many pathways, the electrification of steam crackers. Collaborations with and support of external innovations, such as Coolbrook’s RDR technology, is testament to SABIC’s interest in driving our industry and world forward.”