ADI provided ongoing market intelligence on catalyst innovations and licensing trends across the petrochemical value chain. The analysis focused on technology scale-up for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), renewable diesel, and advanced plastics recycling. Strategic risks, including the impact of IMO 2020 on refinery configurations and the growth of crude-to-chemicals (COTC) projects, were evaluated.
The client
Global specialty chemical provider
The situation
Decision risk regarding R&D investment in renewable fuel catalysts and competitive threats from COTC projects.
ADI’s contributions
Technology trend monitoring
Tracked patent filings and pilot project announcements to identify emerging leaders in chemical recycling technologies.
Impact analysis of COTC
Evaluated how integrated crude-to-chemicals complexes disrupt traditional catalyst and licensing business models.
Renewable fuels deep-dive
Analyzed catalyst requirements and process step constraints for HVO and HEFA-based sustainable fuel production.
Peer benchmarking
Benchmarked the financial performance and R&D spend of top-tier catalyst and technology licensors.
Key outcomes
- Supported long-term innovation strategy and prioritized catalyst development for bio-based feedstock conversion.
More insights
2026 June SAF Tracker highlights – #88
Here are the latest highlights from ADI’s SAF Tracker: The full newsletter along with archives and databases are available to SAF Tracker subscribers.
Utility capital projects & 2026 energy trends
Utility capital projects are facing mounting delays and cost pressures in 2026, even as AI-driven demand fuels record capex. Meanwhile, the upstream oil and gas market is stabilizing around a normalizing shale cost curve, bulk liquid storage operators are shifting toward capability-driven growth, and the energy transition is exposing critical minerals bottlenecks that are pushing […]
U.S. refining capacity is gradually consolidating into larger, more complex facilities
U.S. refining capacity shows limited overall growth, but the structure of the system is shifting. Expansions at large, complex refineries are driving changes on the supply side, while smaller plants face cost and operational constraints that are forcing exits. This is steadily concentrating capacity in fewer, more sophisticated facilities. Key drivers capacity consolidation: Geographic concentration […]