Siemens partners Plastic Energy to improve plastic recycling

GERMANY – German multinational conglomerate Siemens has partnered with UK-based chemical recycling firm Plastic Energy to improve the plastic waste recycling process.

As part of the partnership, two of Plastic Energy’s Spanish plants have incorporated Siemens’ automation and measurement technology, including the SIMATIC PCS 7 and COMOS MRO applications.

The two plants are using Plastic Energy’s patented technology, which converts plastic waste into recycled oils.

The resulting product is then used to manufacture new plastic products such as food-grade packaging.

Siemens’ technology is designed to streamline control systems and address the challenges that result from a complex mix of material consistency.

According to Steve Leech, Siemens Process Control Systems Business Manager: “We have viewed working with Plastic Energy as a long-term partnership from the beginning of our relationship, which brings together the process and industry knowledge of Plastic Energy, with our innovative technology portfolio.

“It is great to be involved with a company so focused on sustainability and contributing to a positive impact on the environment through the recycling of plastic waste.”

Meanwhile, Plastic Energy will also deploy Siemens’ end-to-end technology solutions at its recycling plants, such as Distributed Control Systems (DCS), process instrumentation and low voltage switchgear in the form of SIVACON S8 technology.

Currently, Plastic Energy is constructing several bigger plants around Europe, Asia, and the US, beginning with one in the Netherlands with partner SABIC, to meet the demand for plastic recycling.

In addition, Plastic Energy and Siemens aim to introduce more potential using a digital twin, which creates a virtual model to improve understanding and closed-loop optimization of both process and plant performance.

Plastic Energy CEO Carlos Monreal said: “Through our unique and patented technology and our long-proven process, we achieve two important results: we prevent depletion of natural resources while simultaneously diverting plastics from incineration and landfill, thus protecting the environment from plastic pollution by decreasing the volume of end-of-life plastic waste that could end up as plastic pollution.

“Utilising Siemens automation and processing software is important to ensure that our recycling plants are operating to their full potential and that we are able to continue to recycle as much plastic waste as possible.”

Based in London, Plastic Energy aims to recycle five million tonnes of plastic waste by 2030.

Earlier this year, the company partnered with French energy and petrol company TotalEnergies to build an advanced plastic recycling project in Spain.

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