Todays Latest Updates: 17 September 2026

Biobased chemicals: The Netherlands. Avantium N.V., a leading company in renewable and circular polymer materials, has successfully completed the commissioning of the purification unit at its FDCA Flagship Plant in Delfzijl, the world’s first commercial-scale plant for the production of FDCA (furandicarboxylic acid). With the purification unit now commissioned, all major process units of the Plant have been successfully commissioned, marking an important milestone toward full plant start-up. Avantium is a pioneering commercial-stage company focused on renewable & circular polymer materials. Avantium develops and commercializes innovative technologies for the production of materials based on sustainable carbon feedstocks. The most advanced technology is the YXY® Technology that catalytically converts plant-based sugars into FDCA (furandicarboxylic acid), the key building block for the sustainable plastic PEF (polyethylene furanoate). Link 17/09/2026.

e-fuels: South Africa. South Africa has reached a major milestone in its green hydrogen economy by announcing its first wave of six priority projects and reaching a final investment decision (FID) on a major electro-sustainable aviation fuel (e-SAF) facility. The project developer, Phelan Green Group has plans for a new e-fuels plant to be built in Saldanha Bay. The technology uses integrated HyCOgen and Fischer-Tropsch technologies licensed from Johnson Matthey to turn green hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide into jet fuel. The project timeline is construction is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2027, with the first e-SAF exports targeted for the first quarter of 2029. Link 17/09/2026.

Methanol: The Netherlands Perpetual Next announced the appointment of the international industrial services provider Bilfinger as Owner’s Engineer for the further development of its DeltaTorr and DeltaNor projects in Delfzijl, the Netherlands. The appointment marks a milestone in the development of a large-scale biomethanol production facility, as Perpetual Next works towards a Final Investment Decision (FID). The Delfzijl project is an important part of Perpetual Next’s ambition to develop large-scale production of biomethanol from residues. By converting sustainable biogenic residues into biomethanol, the project aims to provide a lower-carbon alternative for multiple industries like the maritime sector and the chemical industry. Link 17/09/2026.

Renewable diesel: Australia Yamatji Southern Regional Corporation (YSRC), Australian strategy and design firm Veyter and its Canadian parent Agilitas Advisory Corp. signed a MoU to explore the development of a renewable diesel refinery near Geraldton in Western Australia’s Mid-West. The MOU was endorsed by the YSRC Board, and concept-stage work has now commenced as the parties progress the project through feasibility. The plant would produce about 1.1 billion Liters of biodiesel a year, equivalent to 20,000 barrels a day or approximately 4 per cent of Australian diesel demand, from Western Australian canola and tallow. Output would be sold domestically into mining, agriculture, transport, aviation and defense markets. Link 17/09/2026.

RNG: Spain. Chemical engineers at the University of Castilla-La Mancha in Spain found that olive stones, when treated with zinc chloride at high temperatures, yield activated biochars with exceptionally high surface areas that can host nickel nanoparticles for carbon dioxide methanation. the research s highlighted the transformative potential of biochar as a low-cost and sustainable catalyst support, offering a viable alternative to conventional materials for CO2 methanation. By leveraging agricultural residues, this approach not only contributes to circular economy principles but also enhances the economic and environmental feasibility of Power-to-Methane (P2M) technologies. Link 17/09/2026.