Headwaters And Axens Announce DCL Alliance
Headwaters and Axens have created a strategic alliance around their direct coal liquefaction (DCL) technologies. The two companies will combine their technologies and licensing activities for coal-to-liquids (CTL) projects worldwide. Alliance DCL expects to provide a single-source solution for producing ultra-clean transportation fuels from coal - whether alone or in combination with other low-cost or renewable feedstocks, such as biomass and refinery residues. Headwaters will provide its slurry catalyst technology and its CTL research facilities, while Axens will contribute its ebullated-bed H-Coal Process and proprietary catalyst. Both evolved from a common background and DCL technologies developed by Hydrocarbon Research (HRI), which were commercialised with support from the US Department of Energy and industrial clients. Both companies have continued to increase liquid yields, improve energy efficiency, lower production costs and reduce their environmental footprint (in terms of C...