LanzaTech Global, Inc. (NASDAQ: LNZA) and Technip Energies, a leading French engineering company focused on clean energy, recently secured funding of $200 million from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED). This funding will support their joint project, known as Project SECURE (Sustainable Ethylene from CO2 Utilization with Renewable Energy).
Arnaud Pieton, CEO at Technip Energies noted,
“We are pleased to receive the Phase 1 award from the OCED and begin the engineering design work to progress the development of this innovative technology. The global population is expected to continue to rise by 2050, bringing with it a greater demand for consumer goods that rely on ethylene. While addressing this growing demand, we absolutely need to decarbonize ethylene production. We not only need to do something about carbon but very importantly with carbon. That is what our partnership with LanzaTech on this technology is all about. Leveraging our long-lasting leadership in ethylene, we are committed, together with LanzaTech, to develop this technology at scale and continue to explore ways to decarbonize ethylene production.”
Turning Carbon into Ethylene: A Game-Changing Solution
Project SECURE, led by Technip Energies and LanzaTech, introduces a revolutionary way to produce sustainable ethylene for commercial use.
As defined in the press statement,
- The process takes captured carbon dioxide from ethylene production and recycles it with low-carbon intensity hydrogen to create sustainable ethanol and ethylene.
This scalable solution could transform ethylene production globally by replacing fossil fuels. It further highlights the companies’ commitment to lower emissions while advancing clean energy goals.
Technip Energies and LanzaTech plan to launch the project in the U.S. Gulf Coast region, integrating directly into an existing ethylene cracker. There are over 370 ethylene steam crackers worldwide. Eight of these in the U.S. use Technip Energies’ technology. Thus, it creates huge potential for replicating the process globally.
Dr. Jennifer Holmgren, Chair and CEO of LanzaTech stated,
“We are thrilled to reach this milestone and commence work on this important project. Ethylene is a key building block for thousands of chemicals and materials, and is often referred to as the world’s most important chemical. Our project not only increases the efficiency and value of existing ethylene production infrastructure, but also creates high-quality jobs and supports local communities. Circularizing our global carbon economy requires combining ambition with action, and we are grateful for the shared vision and support of the OCED to advance this replicable technology, strengthening our domestic manufacturing base for valuable commodities.”
OCED’s Phased Approach for Oversight and Funding
The Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) is driving clean energy innovation by partnering with private companies to deliver large-scale demonstration projects. Their goal is to speed up the adoption of clean energy solutions and ensure a fair transition to a decarbonized future.
OCED has pledged up to $200 million for Project SECURE, covering design, engineering, construction, and equipment for a commercial-scale integrated technology unit. The first phase has received nearly $20 million.
During this phase, Technip Energies and LanzaTech will complete a Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) study. They will prepare detailed project plans, fulfill requirements for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review, and collaborate with local communities and labor groups.
The oversight will extend to monitoring Project SECURE’s progress at each stage. OCED will evaluate the project’s implementation quality, community benefits, and overall advancement before approving further funding. This phased approach ensures accountability of both companies and aligns with their mission to support impactful projects.
Beyond Ethylene: LanzaTech’s Carbon Recycling for All Industries
LanzaTech has been operating at a commercial scale since 2018, leading the way in carbon recycling technology. Supported by past DOE funding, the company goes beyond ethylene production to capture waste carbon from energy-intensive industries. Instead of releasing or sequestering emissions, they transform them into valuable ethanol and raw materials.
For example: LanzaTech results in taking carbon sources from steel mills
Source: LanzaTech
Innovative Biorecycling Process
The company’s process mimics a brewery but with an interesting twist. Instead of using yeast to convert sugar into alcohol, its proprietary microbes consume carbon emissions to produce ethanol and other building blocks. These materials can then be turned into fuels, chemicals, and consumer goods.
This is how LanzaTech works with industries to turn waste carbon into valuable products instead of letting it go to landfills or the atmosphere. They call it a “CarbonSmart” initiative. This innovative technology not only lowers emissions but also demonstrates how waste can power a cleaner, smarter world.
Notably, every year, approximately 500 million tonnes of carbon are embedded into materials and chemicals, with 88% coming from virgin fossil sources.
Technip Energies: Pioneering Clean Energy Solutions Worldwide
Technip Energies is a global leader in technology and engineering. They are driving innovation in key areas like LNG, hydrogen, ethylene, sustainable chemistry, and CO2 management. The company plays a vital role in advancing energy, decarbonization, and circular economy markets.
Through its two core business segments—Technology, Products, and Services (TPS) and Project Delivery—Technip Energies turns innovative ideas into scalable industrial solutions.
In 2023, the company generated €6 billion in revenue and is listed on Euronext Paris. Its American Depositary Receipts also trade over the counter.
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Revealed in the latest sustainability report, the company’s direct (scope 1) and indirect (scope 2) emissions come from office operations, industrial sites, and data centers. Their goal is to reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions by 30% by 2025 and achieve net zero by 2030.
Source: Technip Energies
In 2023, Technip Energies reported total scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions of 18,845 tonnes CO2eq (location-based) and 14,743 tonnes CO2eq (market-based)
- The company achieved a 28% reduction in market-based emissions compared to the 2021 baseline. This reflects significant progress toward its sustainability goals.
Overall, this funding is a great backup for LanzaTech and Technip Energies to advance carbon recycling for a low-carbon future.