United States – Technip Energies, LyondellBasell, and Chevron Phillips Chemical (CPChem) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the design, construction, and operation of a demonstration unit for Technip Energies’ electric steam cracking furnace technology (eFurnace by T.EN) to generate olefins.

The demonstration unit is intended to demonstrate the technique on an industrial scale and will be situated in the LyondellBasell facility in Channelview, Texas, in the United States. Steam cracking furnaces, which convert hydrocarbons into olefins and aromatics, are crucial in the manufacturing of fundamental chemicals. More than 1,500°F (850°C) is needed for this cracking process.

T.EN technology

The e.Furnace by T.EN technology, which could reach this temperature using electricity as the heat source, was conceptualized and designed by Technip Energies. In this process, using renewable electricity would drastically lower the GHG emissions linked to the manufacture of olefins.