16-01-2025

LOOP technology goes live at Habshan gas processing plant

British climate technology firm Levidian has today announced the successful installation of its patented LOOP technology at ADNOC Gas’ Habshan Gas Processing Plant in Abu Dhabi.  

Working in collaboration with energy technology company Baker Hughes, the installation is a world-first deployment of the technology at an operational gas site. The project will see carbon captured from natural gas and turned into high-quality graphene, which will be evaluated and utilised by ADNOC’s Technology team to explore possible applications. The unit will be capable of producing over a tonne each of graphene and clean hydrogen each year.

processing plants, the five plants at the Habshan complex process around 6 billion standard cubic feet (6.1 bscfd) of gas per day, supplying natural gas to utilities and industrial customers throughout the UAE including water desalination, steel, aluminium and cement manufacturers.

John Hartley, CEO of Levidian, said: “The completion of commissioning at Habshan is a major milestone for the project and an incredible opportunity to demonstrate the application of our technology within one of the harshest, most operationally challenging environments anywhere in the world.

“We’re seeing huge appetite within the market for our graphene and are excited to be working with ADNOC to unlock a new source of this super-material, which will help establish Levidian as one of the world’s largest producers of graphene that is less carbon intensive, more affordable and of a consistently higher quality than anything available on the market today."

The first-of-its-kind demonstration could change the shape of Habshan and the future energy landscape, producing two high value commodities that have a key role to play in the energy transition – hydrogen as a critical future fuel, and graphene as a powerful additive to products including solar panels and batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage facilities that will store excess power produced by renewables. Other use cases include tyres, concrete and polymer pipes where graphene can significantly reduce leakage and help extend the life of assets.  

Mohamed Al Hashemi, Chief Operations Officer of ADNOC Gas, said: "The deployment of LOOP technology is a significant milestone for ADNOC Gas. By transforming methane into valuable graphene and clean hydrogen, we are unlocking new value from natural gas, driving decarbonization and supporting the UAE’s industrial growth and climate ambitions. This project reflects our dedication to shaping a more sustainable energy future while delivering tangible benefits for the industries we serve."

Alessandro Bresciani, senior vice president Climate Technology Solutions at Baker Hughes, said: “Bringing innovation from startups and research labs into the reality of complex industrial sites requires technical skills and the highest level of collaboration and focus on health, safety and environment. We are delighted to have brought Levidian's technology into ADNOC Gas’ Habshan plant, as part of our company’s long-term focus in bringing to market and scaling up innovative solutions for our customers."

Data collected during the pilot will be used to refine the ongoing development of AI modelling and digital twins to minimize energy consumption and maximize graphene output from future installations as part of Levidian’s growing fleet of LOOP units. AI will also support quality control of the graphene and accelerate potential applications, improving efficiency, reducing waste and enhancing the ultimate decarbonisation impact.