BlueAlp EU grant PPO

BlueAlp Secures €21M EU Innovation Grant to Accelerate Next-Gen Pyrolysis Expansion

Dutch advanced recycling technology provider BlueAlp has reached a pivotal milestone in scaling up European chemical recycling infrastructure. The company has been selected by the European Union Innovation Fund to receive €21 million ($23.5 million) toward constructing a new 49,000 tonnes-per-year pyrolysis unit and an integrated pyrolysis oil (PPO) upgrader in Kampen, Netherlands.

The selection forms part of a major €100 million capital project designed to convert low-grade waste plastics into circular chemical feedstocks. Simultaneously, BlueAlp announced strategic plans to expand its existing commercial facility in Oostende, Belgium, adding a 24,500 tonnes-per-year pyrolysis reactor to capitalize on established site infrastructure.  BlueAlp EU grant PPO

These dual project developments mark a decisive operational shift as BlueAlp transitions into an owner-operator model alongside its established technology licensing business.

€100 Million Kampen Project Gains EU Innovation Support

The Kampen facility represents a major industrial leap for European chemical recycling capacity. Originally conceived as a joint venture initiative with Shell, BlueAlp took direct operational control of the project to drive its long-term plant-building and operational strategy.  BlueAlp EU grant PPO

+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                  Kampen Pyrolysis Project Overview               |
+------------------------------------+------------------------------+
| EU Innovation Fund Grant           | €21 Million ($23.5M)         |
| Total Project Cost                 | €100 Million                 |
| Total Processing Capacity          | 49,000 tonnes/year           |
| Configuration                      | 2x 24,500 t/yr Pyrolysis     |
|                                    | Reactors + PPO Upgrader      |
| Location                           | Kampen, Netherlands          |
| Expected Construction Start        | Early 2028                   |
| Commercial Operational Start-up    | 2029                         |
+------------------------------------+------------------------------+

According to BlueAlp Chief Executive Valentijn De Neve, the remainder of the €100 million project capital is largely secured. Shell continues to play a core role as a key shareholder, technology co-developer, and primary PPO off-taker.

The project was selected under a highly competitive call by the EU Innovation Fund, which chose 77 low-carbon technology projects out of 358 industrial applicants. The company expects to complete formal grant agreement preparations over the next three to four months.  BlueAlp EU grant PPO

Following final preparations and a Final Investment Decision (FID), site construction in Kampen is slated to begin in early 2028, targeting full commercial start-up in 2029.

Operational Synergies and Integrated PPO Upgrading

A central feature of the Kampen development is the co-location of an integrated pyrolysis oil upgrader alongside the primary conversion reactors.  BlueAlp EU grant PPO

Pyrolysis oil derived from mixed plastic waste often contains impurities—including halogens, oxygenates, and heavy conjugated hydrocarbons—that restrict its direct introduction into petrochemical assets. By integrating licensed upgrading unit operations directly within the PPO production footprint, BlueAlp aims to significantly reduce capex and opex compared to stand-alone upgrading facilities.

This integrated purification step allows the output to meet strict specifications required for direct feeding into steam crackers, replacing virgin fossil naphtha in ethylene and propylene synthesis.

Both the Kampen plant and the planned expansion at Oostende will utilize BlueAlp’s proprietary core reactor architecture. Operational refinements will include:

• Built-in component redundancy to achieve higher annual stream factors and operating times.

• Redesigned vessel geometries providing enhanced access for routine cleaning, inspection, and preventative maintenance.

• Standardized reactor modules to streamline maintenance cycles across regional operating sites.  BlueAlp EU grant PPO

Expanding the Oostende Hub and Regional Synergy Network

Alongside the Kampen development, BlueAlp is accelerating growth at its Oostende site in Belgium. The planned addition of a 24,500 tonnes-per-year reactor will expand the facility well beyond its current operating capacity of approximately 20,000 tonnes per year.

From an investment standpoint, expansion at Oostende offers compelling capital efficiency by leveraging existing site utilities, grid connectivity, and logistics access. Pending FID approval, the expanded Oostende unit is expected to be operational by mid-2028.

  [ Oostende Hub (Belgium) ] <--- Logistics & Feedstock Synergy ---> [ Kampen Plant (NL) ]
           |                                                                 |
           +-------------------> [ Rotterdam FEED Site ] <------------------+
                                        |
                          [ BioBTX Project (Delfzijl) ]

BlueAlp’s geographic focus across the Netherlands and Belgium establishes a tight regional cluster. This hub-and-spoke configuration links the Kampen and Oostende assets with other strategic initiatives:

• A 40,000 tonnes-per-year front-end engineering and design (FEED) stage project in Rotterdam in partnership with LBC Tank Terminals.

• A technology partnership with BioBTX in Delfzijl, Netherlands, aimed at producing circular aromatics.  BlueAlp EU grant PPO

Proximity across these Benelux assets creates operational synergies in plastic waste feedstock procurement, shared technical staffing, optimized logistics, and unified product quality control.

Strategic Alignment with European Mandates

The commercial timing of BlueAlp’s plant additions aligns directly with accelerating structural demand for chemically recycled polymers across Europe.

As the European Union moves toward stricter circular economy mandates—most notably under the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)—brand owners face binding target dates for mandatory recycled content in contact-sensitive non-PET packaging applications.  BlueAlp EU grant PPO

Because mechanical recycling struggle to achieve food-grade purity for polyolefin-based packaging (such as polypropylene and low-density polyethylene), chemical recycling via mass-balanced pyrolysis provides an essential compliance pathway.

By timing commercial online dates for 2028 and 2029, BlueAlp secures a strategic market advantage, ensuring high-purity PPO volumes become available precisely as petrochemical producers and converters scramble to fulfill mandatory post-consumer recycled (PCR) targets.  BlueAlp EU grant PPO

Summary of BlueAlp Advanced Recycling Project Portfolio

+---------------------+-------------------+---------------------+------------------+
| Facility Location   | Processing Cap.   | Primary Status      | Target Online    |
+---------------------+-------------------+---------------------+------------------+
| Oostende (Existing) | ~20,000 t/yr      | Commercial Operation| Active           |
| Oostende (Exp.)     | +24,500 t/yr      | Planned Expansion   | Mid-2028 (p. FID) |
| Kampen (New)        | 49,000 t/yr       | EU Grant / Engineering| 2029 Start-up   |
| Rotterdam (LBC)     | 40,000 t/yr       | FEED Stage          | Planning Phase   |
+---------------------+-------------------+---------------------+------------------+

With grant agreement preparations underway, BlueAlp’s €21 million EU Innovation Fund backing provides momentum for its commercial expansion. By combining reactor scale-up, integrated PPO upgrading, and strategic regional logistics, the company reinforces its position as a key technology provider in Europe’s transition toward circular chemical feedstocks. BlueAlp EU grant PPO

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