Clariant and Shanghai Electric form alliance to boost green methanol, SAF, and sustainable energy projects in China's clean energy transition.
Clariant, a global specialty chemical company known for its focus on sustainability, has entered into a strategic collaboration with Shanghai Boiler Works Co., Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Shanghai Electric. This new alliance aims to jointly promote innovation and drive the development of sustainable energy solutions across China. Shanghai Boiler Works brings its expertise in energy conversion and new energy technologies, complementing Clariant’s well-established proficiency in advanced catalyst systems. The two companies will work closely on green energy initiatives as part of China's broader efforts to transition toward a low-carbon future.
The partnership is a formalization of their successful cooperation on Shanghai Electric’s pioneering biomass-to-green methanol project in Taonan, located in Jilin Province. As part of the project, Clariant supplied its high-efficiency MegaMax catalysts and provided extensive on-site technical support during the commissioning of the 50,000 tons per year facility. The plant marks a milestone as China’s first biomass-to-green methanol project and has successfully commenced operations.
Looking ahead, a second, more ambitious phase of the Taonan project is already in the pipeline. Scheduled for launch in 2027, this next stage will expand production capacity to 200,000 tons of green methanol annually, along with 10,000 tons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This expansion underscores the rising demand and strategic importance of alternative fuels in achieving China’s energy goals.
The official signing of the long-term cooperation agreement took place at the Clariant Innovation Center in Frankfurt, Germany. During the ceremony, Clariant’s Vice President Georg Anfang emphasized the significance of the alliance. “We are proud to contribute to China’s first biomass-to-green methanol facility in Taonan, which joins a growing portfolio of plants using our high-performance MegaMax catalysts. As China solidifies its leadership in the global energy transition, our alliance with Shanghai Electric strengthens Clariant’s role as a leading enabler of clean energy, sustainable chemicals, and green fuels,” he said.
Shanghai Electric’s Vice President, Qiu Jiayou, echoed these sentiments, stating, “We are pleased with the successful implementation of our new project and thrilled to formalize our strategic agreement with Clariant. Their vision and technological leadership align with ours, and we’re excited to collaborate on cutting-edge, sustainable energy solutions that can serve customers worldwide.”
Shanghai Electric is internationally recognized for its innovation in industrial systems and energy infrastructure, specializing in areas such as power generation, automation, and intelligent manufacturing. Through this partnership, the company will combine its engineering and plant design capabilities with Clariant’s extensive catalyst technologies.
The strategic agreement includes joint research and development, engineering and design collaboration, supply of chemical processing equipment, and delivery of turnkey projects. Clariant will also provide its expertise in catalysts for green methanol, e-methanol, green ammonia, sustainable aviation fuel, and gas purification technologies.
