December 7, 2023
Today, sustainable raw materials and climate technology company Perpetual Next announces the start of the development of a large-scale biomethanol plant in Estonia. Biomethanol can serve as a raw material for the production of chemicals, all of which are currently extracted from oil and gas. With the production of biomethanol, Perpetual Next helps the chemical industry to become more sustainable. Perpetual Next also sees a growing demand for biomethanol from the maritime sector. The start of the production facility is targeted for 2027.
Perpetual Next specializes in producing and supplying renewable raw materials and associated technology that enable industries, such as the steel and chemical industries, to make their production processes more sustainable. Perpetual Next is, among other things, a leading producer of biocarbon. It has developed a patented carbonisation technology for creating biocarbon from wood waste streams, including demolition wood.
Perpetual Next currently owns and operates a biocarbon plant in Estonia. The biomethanol plant will be developed on the same plot, which is owned by Perpetual Next. Biomethanol is produced via gasification of biocarbon. After expanding current production in Estonia, Perpetual Next will also supply the biocarbon to the biomethanol plant at the same location. The realization of the biomethanol production facility involves an investment of 450 million euros. The first buyers of biomethanol have already registered. This project follows the same blueprint that Perpetual Next is currently using for the development of a production facility for biocarbon and biomethanol at one plot in Delfzijl (NL).
Rene Buwalda, CEO Perpetual Next Conversions and Developments: “With this project we are responding to the growing demand for biomethanol. In Estonia, we can make rapid progress because we already own the land and have an operational biocarbon production facility. The necessary permit procedures have been started and our experience in Estonia is that permit applications proceed more quickly compared to the Netherlands and this is beneficial for the energy transition and our climate goals . This is also one of the reasons why Perpetual Next is expanding abroad.”
Perpetual Next is also currently expanding in the US with a recently announced joint venture with a major global mining company and a leading supplier of woody waste streams. This joint venture aims to commission biocarbon production facilities at three locations in the US over the next five years. Perpetual Next plans to expand biomethanol production to the US and Canada in the slipstream of this joint venture and is currently exploring potential locations.