A large portion of the world’s plastic waste currently ends up in incineration plants, even though the plastic still contains valuable raw materials. If more plastic is to be recycled instead of being incinerated, new technologies are needed that can convert waste plastic into new chemical building blocks.
Chemical Plastic Recycling is an innovation project designed to explore the possibilities of establishing a commercial facility at Risø where plastic waste can be converted into methanol through gasification. The goal is to lay the groundwork for a facility capable of processing up to 5,000 metric tons of plastic waste per year, thereby contributing to a more circular use of plastic resources.
From pilot plant to commercial scale
The project builds on SemperCycles’ existing pilot plant at Risø, which can process up to 1,000 metric tons of plastic waste per year. As part of the project, a feasibility study will be conducted to determine what is required to scale up the plant to a capacity of 5,000 metric tons per year.
The work includes, among other things, the design and layout of the facility, an assessment of environmental and regulatory requirements, and the preparation of the necessary environmental and building permits. The goal is to create a solid basis for decision-making regarding the establishment of a future commercial facility.
Foundation for Future Projects
The project is being carried out by SemperCycle in collaboration with DTU Chemical Engineering.
Gasification is a well-known technology, but its application to plastic waste is still under development. The project will therefore further develop the processes and operational procedures necessary to apply the technology on a larger scale.
If the project demonstrates that a facility at Risø is technically, economically, and regulatory feasible, the experience gained can serve as the basis for establishing additional facilities in Denmark and, in the longer term, internationally as well.
Development Based at Risø
Projektet tager udgangspunkt i SemperCycles pilotanlæg på Risø, hvor virksomheden allerede arbejder med kemisk genanvendelse af plast. DTU Kemiteknik bidrager med forskningskompetencer, mens DTU Link indgår i arbejdet med udviklingen af Risø som et samlingspunkt for grøn teknologi og industrielle demonstrationsanlæg.
Projektet skal samtidig skabe grundlag for nye udviklings- og produktionsaktiviteter på Risø og understøtte den videre udvikling af kemisk plastgenanvendelse i Danmark.
Part of the Risø SME Innovation Platform
The project is one of 15 innovation projects within the Risø SME Innovation Platform, where companies and research institutions collaborate to develop and demonstrate new green technologies. The platform provides companies with access to research expertise, testing facilities, and strong innovation partnerships based at Risø.
Explore the other projects on the innovation platform
- PFASOL – PFAS in solar power plants – mapping and documentation of PFAS in solar power plants.
- OmniPFAS – flexible solutions for removing PFAS from various types of water.
- KhaosGuard – continuous monitoring of nitrous oxide emissions from wastewater treatment plants.
- RisøLith – 3D printing at the nanoscale at low temperatures.
- Circular solar-powered lighting – off-grid lighting with a focus on circularity and dark-sky principles.
- Heat-driven water-based cooling technology – utilization of excess heat for energy-efficient cooling.
- Reliable water supply – mobile solutions for producing safe drinking water.
- Searine M360 – electric propulsion system for small boats.
- Chemical plastic recycling – conversion of plastic waste into methanol.
- NanoShield – UV and nanotechnology that inhibits bacterial and algal growth on metal surfaces.
- Lab2Land – Greenlandic rock flour for carbon sequestration and soil improvement.
- 3D printing for flood protection – nature-based barriers printed directly into the landscape.
- Recycled Wind Turbines for 3D-Printed Homes – fiberglass from end-of-life wind turbines as a building material.
- Circular Plastic without Permanence – biodegradable plastic made from brewery waste.
- Circular Battery Design – battery systems designed for disassembly, repair, and reuse.
The project is part of the Risø SME Innovation Platform, which was developed as a coordinated initiative under the Investment Support Scheme for Green Innovative Technologies and is administered by Clean. The initiative is funded by REACT-EU funds administered by the Danish Board of Business Development.
