Driven by sustainability : A conversation with Reinier Grimbergen

During a recent interview with industry expert Reinier Grimbergen, we explored the rapidly evolving sustainable chemical sector. Drawing from his extensive background in R&D leadership and his current role as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and co-founder of Blue Circle Olefins, Grimbergen shared interesting perspectives on market tendencies, macro trends, and the fundamental role of catalysis in navigating the green transition.

Start production of 100% circular olefins by 2030

Reinier Grimbergen’s career spans a decade in various roles at DSM, followed by principal consultancy at TNO, focusing on the energy-intensive chemical market. Today, he is channeling his vast experience into tangible industry transformation as the CTO of Blue Circle Olefins. The company is actively designing a production plant in the Port of Rotterdam, Europe's largest methanol hub, geared toward producing 200 kilotons of sustainable olefins per year via Methanol-to-Olefins (MTO) technology.

"It's fun to work in the chemical industry," Grimbergen says, emphasizing his passion for dedication and collaboration to move from an ideating presentation to real-world deployment. "Our quest with Blue Circle Olefins is providing a seamless 'drop-in' substitute for the downstream polymer industry, achieving an emission reduction of over 80% (the first plant will save 800,000 tons of CO₂ per year) compared to traditional oil-based production."

"Our core chemical path relies on substituting crude oil with mixed waste and bio-originated carbon. Through gasification, our suppliers transform non-recyclable municipal solid waste and agroforestry residues into sustainable methanol. In our production facility we will crack this methan,ol with a carbon efficiency of over 90% to produce 80 kilotons of ethylene (C2) and 120 kilotons of propylene (C3) annually. At the same time, we aim at a nearly net-zero production footprint by electrification and utilizing renewable energy sources.

Navigating market tendencies and the 'psychology of change’

While the Dutch government pushes forward with a 'sustainable carbon vision' and European policymakers take important steps, Grimbergen notes that lawmakers do not always align well with specialists. "Despite good intentions, lawmakers should listen more to the experts," he reflects. "What really matters in decision making are core expertise in chemistry and physics, and a deep understanding of phenomena like climate change."

Currently, Blue Circle Olefins targets early adopters, representing roughly 7% of the total chemical market, and specialty market, where customers are willing to pay a premium price for sustainability. Large-scale production is slated to begin in a matter of months. According to Grimbergen, a pragmatic approach to existing downstream infrastructure is key to accelerating the market uptake of sustainable products.

Grimbergen: "All downstream assets can remain largely the same. Let's be pragmatic: infrastructure is mostly in place, which means transitions could go faster. We just need to overcome 'analysis paralysis,' think in the longer run, and secure more investments in Europe."

However, the biggest hurdle might not be technical or financial, but cultural. Grimbergen observes that the chemical sector too often operates on short-term strategies, inherently driving downstream costs higher over time. "If we don't change the psychology, we're in trouble," he states bluntly. "I would better spend my time on psychology, although I'm not an expert in this area."

Catalysis : The ultimate fleet optimizer

For clean-tech innovators like Zeopore, Grimbergen’s insights underscore the immense value of advanced catalysis. In alternative feedstock processing, catalysts are critical for steering selectivity, improving cold flow properties, extending catalyst lifetime, and managing reactivation. By engineering 'mesopores' (internal molecular highways) inside zeolite crystals, Zeopore accelerates molecular diffusion, directly boosting product yield and process efficiency."

Grimbergen views this level of micro-efficiency as a massive commercial lever, particularly for bulk processes including Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). For big-scale cracking installations, that results in a big multiplier. Catalysis offers infinite options to steer bulk processes to improve for tangible improvements, both from an economical and sustainable viewpoint."

He notes that: "catalysts provide the upstream flexibility needed to seamless shift between bio-derived and waste-derived methanol, while precisely balancing downstream output ratios, such as steering processes toward highly sought-after propylene (C3). Therefore, Blue Circle Olefins may very well become a customer of Zeopore."

A coalition of the willing

As the global landscape fragments, with the US traditionally focused on oil and China advancing rapidly in electrification, Grimbergen believes European innovation must rely on its core strengths: knowledge and skill.

Expressing strong confidence in Zeopore's go-to-market path, Grimbergen concludes with an encouraging nod to the team's mission: "Great what Zeopore is doing! What you do is so much needed. Such a sustainability and efficiency undertaking in existing and emerging markets requires a coalition of the willing and capable. Zeopore is making it happen!"