In these uncertain times, with the energy transition in flux and a recession looming, it takes moxie for a company to make a major capital investment in an energy-related project, especially one that could arguably be called the first of its kind. But that’s what’s happening at a site along the Houston Ship Channel (HSC) in Pasadena, TX, where Next Wave Energy Partners, which is now completing an ethylene-to-alkylate plant, is planning an adjoining ethanol-to-ethylene facility that will enable the company to produce bioethylene, renewable alkylate and/or sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), depending on market demand, production economics and other factors. In today’s RBN blog, we discuss the ins and outs of Next Wave’s Project Lightning.
In Part 1, we took an in-depth look at the company’s 28-Mb/d ethylene-to-alkylate plant — dubbed Project Traveler — which during the coming driving season will start producing pure alkylate, an octane-boosting gasoline blendstock, from NGL-based ethylene. More specifically, the plant’s dimerization unit reacts ethylene to form butylene, and its alkylation unit reacts isobutane with butylene to form pure alkylate, with no material byproducts. The thinking behind the project is that a combination of NGL production growth and new Gulf Coast ethylene supply — plus increasing demand for alkylate — would be a win-win-win for ethylene producers, refiners and Next Wave itself. We noted that high octane, low Reid vapor pressure (RVP) and low sulfur content are three of the most desirable qualities for gasoline blendstock, and alkylate (typically produced as part of the crude oil refining process and representing about 15% of the total gasoline pool) has perhaps the best combo of the three.
The Future of Fuels bi-annual report by RBN's Refined Fuels Analytics provides an in-depth analysis of the U.S. and global refinery industries, focusing on crude oil and fuel market dynamics, supply and demand, alternative fuels, refinery capacities, and price forecasts to help stakeholders navigate the evolving energy landscape.
Today, as promised, we’ll dive into Project Lightning, which is designed to allow Next Wave and its customers to make a feedstock shift, over time, from conventional, NGL-based ethylene to chemically identical bioethylene derived from ethanol. As we previously noted in Take a Look at Me Now, bioethylene can be used to produce plastics, fibers, antifreeze and many other products, or in the case of Project Traveler, renewable alkylate (an octane booster eligible for Renewable Identification Number environmental credits — more on this in a moment) or SAF (a low-carbon-intensity alternative to crude-oil-based jet kerosene).
Join Backstage Pass to Read Full Article
About the song
“Keeps Gettin’ Better” was written by Christina Aguilera and Linda Perry and appears as the 12th song on Christina Aguilera’s first greatest hits album, Keeps Gettin’ Better: A Decade of Hits. Made specifically as a new song for the hits album, it was released as a single in September 2008. It went to #7 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Dance Club Songs Singles charts. The electro-pop tune was produced by co-writer Linda Perry. Personnel on the record were: Christina Aguilera (vocals), Linda Perry (programming), and Marc Jameson (drum programming).
Keeps Gettin’ Better: A Decade of Hits features songs recorded between 1998 and 2008. Produced by Walter Afanasieff, Christina Aguilera, Glen Ballard, ChakDaddy, DJ Premier, E. Dawk, Missy Elliott, Ron Fair, Rob Lewis, Balewa Mahammad, Linda Perry, Charles Roane, Guy Roche, Rockwilder, Scott Storch, and Sol Survivor, the album was released in November 2008 and went to #9 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart. It has been certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. “Keeps Gettin’ Better” was the only single released from the LP.
Christina Aguilera is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality. She got her start as a professional entertainer as a member of The Mickey Mouse Club on the Disney Channel. She signed with RCA Records and released her debut studio album in 1999. Aguilera has released nine studio albums, six compilation albums, one soundtrack album, three EPs and 54 singles. She has sold more than 75 million records worldwide. Aguilera has appeared in nine motion pictures and 18 television shows and was a coach/judge on the television talent search program The Voice for six seasons. She has won four ASCAP Awards, five BMI Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, five Grammy Awards and one MTV Video Music Award, and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She continues to record and tour.
