CHOREN

What CHOREN does

CHOREN Industrietechnik GmbH is a Sino-German industrial engineering company that develops, licenses, and supplies equipment for entrained-flow dry coal dust gasification, built on technology with more than 50 years of R&D heritage originating from the German Fuel Institute (DBI) in the 1970s and commercialized from the 1990s onward. The company's proprietary CCG process features a multi-burner (3+1) configuration and a steam-fluidized bed drying (DWT) step, protected by more than 90 patents across 50+ patent classes and an exclusive CHOREN trademark. Headquartered in Beijing with engineering and R&D in Dresden and a Hong Kong branch, the firm operates under majority Chinese ownership and serves primarily Chinese state-owned coal chemical enterprises engaged in ammonia, ethylene glycol, olefin, and urea production.

The business model combines technology licensing with engineering services, core hardware component supply, and long-term technical services and training, delivered primarily through EPC partnerships with China Tianchen Engineering, China Wuhuan, and equipment localization via Dongfang Electric/Boiler (achieving 100% domestic Chinese manufacturing of core components). Gasifier units span 300MW to 600MW class on commercial deployments, with a 3,000 t/day design completed in 2018 and a 5,000 t/day next-generation unit under development. Customer concentration is anchored by Chinese SOE coal chemical complexes including Guizhou Kaiyang Chemical (ammonia since 2013), Shaanxi Yulin Chemical and Shaanxi Yulin Energy Group (ethylene glycol at 1.8 million tons/year — world's largest single-train), Qinghai Mining Group (olefins), Hubei Huanyi Chemical (ammonia), Inner Mongolia Connell Chemical (ethylene glycol), and Ordos Yiding Ecological Agriculture (ammonia/urea, 2024 commissioning). The firm bundles EPC+F financing via Bank of Kunlun, a CNPC subsidiary, lowering buyer capex barriers.

More than 10 gasification plants have been contracted under recent commercial activity, and strategic priorities include a 2018 hydrogen technology alliance, partnership with Shaanxi Coal Group (2019), expanded Sino-German cooperation (2021), and a leadership transition from Dr. Klaus-Dieter Klemmer to Henry Hempel as Technical Managing Director in February 2022. The company's competitive position rests on its technology heritage, IP depth, empirical coal database, and an integrated offering across licensing, engineering, hardware, and aftermarket services for a narrow but high-value coal-chemical customer base.

Name

CHOREN

Legal name

CHOREN Industrietechnik GmbH

Website

https://choren.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CHOREN Industrietechnik is a Sino-German engineering company that licenses and supplies dry-coal-dust entrained-flow gasification (CCG) technology and core components to Chinese coal chemical enterprises producing ammonia, ethylene glycol, olefins, and urea.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Gasification Engineering & Technology Licensing

NAICS

Mining and Oil and Gas Field Machinery Manufacturing (33313), Oil and Gas Field Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing (333132), Industrial Gas Manufacturing (32512)

SIC

Oil & Gas Field Machinery & Equipment (3533), Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991)

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) Coal Power Plants (EUACAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Gas Conditioning & Treatment for Industrial Use (Dehydration, Sweetening, NGL Removal) (EUALALAG), Coal-to-Power with CHP / District Heating (Coal Cogeneration) (EUACAAAN)

Keywords

• Coal gasification technology
• Synthesis gas production
• Engineering services
• Entrained-flow gasification
• Coal chemical industry

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Technology Licensing: Licensing of CCG coal gasification technology to chemical and petrochemical companies for synthesis gas production plants.
2. Engineering Services: Process design, basic engineering, and detail engineering for CCG gasification plants. Includes process engineering design, pipeline planning, layout planning, process control technology, I&C technology, and technical plant safety.
3. Core Components Supply: Manufacturing and supply of know-how-intensive core components including CCG coal gasifiers, burner systems, dust dense-flow feeding systems, discharge and lock systems, and DWT components.
4. Technical Services and Training: Operator know-how transfer including theoretical and practice-oriented training of operating personnel, commissioning support, and long-term maintenance contracts with spare parts supply.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

CHOREN Industrietechnik GmbH is an engineering company and technology licensor that plans, designs, and constructs synthesis gas production plants using its proprietary CCG® (CHOREN Coal Gasification) entrained-flow dry coal dust gasification technology. The company sells CCG engineering packages, manufactures and supplies core components (gasifiers, burner systems, feeding systems), and provides technical services including operator training, commissioning support, and long-term maintenance contracts. It also offers the DWT steam-fluidized bed drying process and hydrogen technology solutions, with a strong focus on the Chinese coal chemical industry.

Product overview

CHOREN offers a portfolio of coal gasification technologies and engineering services for synthesis gas production. The core offering is the CCG® (Coal Coal Gasification) entrained-flow dry coal dust gasification technology, complemented by the DWT steam-fluidized bed drying process for coal moisture reduction. The company provides complete engineering packages including process design, basic engineering, and detail engineering services, along with technical services for commissioning, training, and maintenance. Core hardware includes multi-burner CCG gasifiers available in 300MW to 600MW capacities, burner systems, and feeding/dosing equipment. Additional offerings include hydrogen storage technologies (Type III/IV tanks), permanent magnet drive systems, and project consulting services. The company also offers studies, conceptions, and know-how transfer for optimal plant operation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CCG® Coal Gasification Process Entrained-flow dry coal dust gasification technology for producing high-purity, energy-rich synthesis gas from coal, petroleum coke, and other carbonaceous feedstocks. Licensed to chemical and petrochemical companies for synthesis gas production plants serving ammonia, methanol, ethylene glycol, olefins, and other chemical products.
• DWT Process (Steam-Fluidized Bed Drying) Steam-fluidized bed drying technology that reduces coal moisture to 5-15% before gasification, using superheated steam as fluidization medium. Integrated with CCG gasification to improve energy efficiency and overall plant economics.
• CCG® Coal Gasifier Multi-burner entrained-flow gasifier with 3+1 burner design mounted on gasifier head for complete coal dust gasification, available in 300MW to 600MW capacity ranges (including 2000 and 3000 t/day models). Operates above 2000°C with integrated cooling screen and slag protective layer.
• Engineering Competence & High Technology Services Planning, design, and construction services for synthesis gas production plants, including process engineering design, pipeline planning, layout planning, process control technology, I&C technology, and technical plant safety. Delivered to enterprise chemical and petrochemical customers.
• Project Development & Consulting Project development services including site search, technology selection, process configuration, plant layout, and profitability analyses for clients evaluating new gasification plants or expansions.
• CCG®-Engineering Packages Basic engineering packages including Basis of Design, Mass and Energy Balances, Process Flow Diagrams, PID, Equipment Specifications, and Operating Principles for CCG gasification plants.
• Technical Services Know-how packages, commissioning support, start-up activities, operator training, and long-term maintenance contracts for CCG gasification plants. Includes theoretical and practice-oriented training of operating personnel.
• Core Components for Syngas Plants Supply of CCG coal gasifier with integrated cooling system, burner systems, dust dense-flow feeding and dosing systems, discharge and lock systems for bulk solids, and DWT components. Manufactured and supplied to project sites.
• Studies & Conceptions Advisory services including process concept development, flow diagrams, mass and energy balances, and estimation of personnel, space requirements, investment, and operating costs for prospective gasification projects.
• Hydrogen Technologies Hydrogen storage and transport solutions including Type III and Type IV high-pressure hydrogen storage tanks (500 bar and 700 bar), SOEC/SOFC technology for co-electrolysis, solid hydride storage, and mobile hydrogen production systems. Active in China Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cell Industry Innovation Strategic Alliance.
• Permanent Magnet Drive Technology Energy-saving synchronous permanent magnet motors developed with Technical University of Dresden for industrial applications including power plants, mining, metallurgy, and chemical industries. Features low running speed, high output torque, high efficiency, and simplified transmission chain.

Quantifiable outcome

• Effective gas composition >91% vs <80% for water-slurry processes
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• German Mining Information Cooperation OfficeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Entry into new phase of Sino-German cooperation in raw materials and energy sector through establishment of German Mining Information Cooperation Office.
• Shaanxi Coal GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Cooperation agreement for joint development of pulverized coal gasification with high concentration of organic waste for effective utilization and energy saving. Also cooperation on the 1.8 million t/y ethylene glycol project.
• China Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cell Industry Innovation Strategic AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Industry alliance led by China Energy Investment Group. CHOREN participates in promoting industrial layout, setting standards, power generation and storage, and fuel cell vehicle applications. CHOREN contributes coal gasification expertise for hydrogen production.
• China Tianchen Engineering Co., Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership for EPC contracts on large-scale gasification projects in China. Tianchen serves as main EPC contractor while CHOREN provides CCG technology and engineering packages. Major projects include the 1.8 million t/y ethylene glycol project for Shaanxi Coal Group Yulin Chemical.
• Yankuang Kaiyang Chemical Co., Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership for market development and project acquisition. Kaiyang was the first to adopt CHOREN CCG technology with two 400MW gasifiers for 500,000 t/year ammonia production, achieving >95% availability since 2013.
• Dongfang Electric Group / Dongfang Boiler Co., Ltd.coreTechnology or IntegrationEquipment manufacturing partnership for localization of patented key components. Dongfang Boiler manufactures gasifiers including the 2,000 t/day unit for Shaanxi Coal Group project. Achieved 100% localization of patented key components.
• Technical University of DresdenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development of energy-saving synchronous permanent magnet motors with low running speed and high output torque. Established joint venture company in China for product development, manufacturing, and technical services.
• European Technology R&D Institutions (Germany, France)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership for hydrogen storage technology development including high-pressure hydrogen storage tanks (Type III and IV) and solid hydride storage solutions.
• Shanghai HuanqiucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for coal gasification projects in China. Signed contracts for gasification projects including the Ordos Yiding project with EPC+F (General Contracting + Financing) business cooperation model.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Synthesis Energy Systems (SES): SES (now an Asia-focused entity) developed the U-GAS fluidized-bed coal gasification technology for low-rank coals. It overlaps with CHOREN's positioning on flexible coal-feed gasification but operates at a much smaller scale and has struggled commercially.
• East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST) / HTAS: ECUST-affiliated technology providers (including HTAS and other spinouts) are the leading Chinese-origin licensors of water-slurry coal gasification, the main domestic alternative to CHOREN's dry coal dust CCG in China. They compete on price and local support for Chinese SOE coal-to-chemicals projects.

Broad incumbents

• KBR: KBR licenses the transport reactor coal gasification technology (originally developed by KRW Energy) and is a broader EPC and process technology provider for the refining, petrochemical, and syngas industries. Overlaps with CHOREN's coal-to-chemicals and syngas engineering portfolio at multi-billion-dollar project scale.
• Honeywell UOP: Honeywell UOP is a major process technology licensor for petrochemicals, refining, and gas processing with overlapping adjacencies into syngas conditioning, hydrogen, and methanol-to-olefins. While not a direct coal gasification competitor, UOP's downstream chemical process licenses often sit adjacent to (or compete with) CHOREN's syngas supply in integrated petrochemical complexes.
• Air Products (Lurgi Gasification): Air Products owns the Lurgi fixed-bed gasification technology and operates one of the most globally deployed portfolios of gasification-based chemical and synthetic natural gas plants. Competes with CHOREN in coal-to-chemicals and SNG licensing, particularly in Asia and the Middle East.
• GE Vernova / GE Gasification: GE (formerly Texaco) offers a widely deployed entrained-flow gasification technology used in Chinese chemical and IGCC projects. GE is a broader industrial incumbent with full power generation and grid solutions, but its gasification offering competes directly with CHOREN on coal-to-hydrogen, chemicals, and power.

Direct peers

• Siemens Energy: Siemens Energy's gasification business (formerly Siemens Fuel Gasification Freiberg, the direct corporate successor of the GSP Schwarze Pumpe technology that CHOREN's CCG platform evolved from) licenses and builds entrained-flow coal gasification plants. The two companies share technological heritage from the same German gasification R&D ecosystem and compete head-to-head in international tenders.
• Shell Catalysts & Technologies: Shell's SCGP (Shell Coal Gasification Process) is a globally licensed entrained-flow coal gasification technology offering, directly competing with CHOREN's CCG platform for the same coal-to-chemicals and IGCC customers. Both Shell and CHOREN license dry-feed entrained-flow designs originating from parallel R&D lineages and target integrated chemical and power complexes.

Others

• China Tianchen Engineering (TCC): Tianchen is CHOREN's primary EPC partner and a major Chinese engineering contractor that licenses and builds multiple coal gasification technologies (including HTAS water-slurry units). Although not a direct technology licensor like CHOREN, Tianchen is the dominant EPC delivery vehicle in CHOREN's largest projects, making it a critical value-chain partner and adjacent competitor for project pipeline.

Regional players

• Yankuang Group: Yankuang Group, through subsidiary Yankuang Kaiyang Chemical, is CHOREN's flagship reference customer (operating CCG-400 gasifiers since 2013). Yankuang is also a Chinese coal-to-chemicals operator that vertically integrates coal mining with downstream chemicals, making it both a key customer and an adjacent strategic player in the same coal value chain.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/choren-usa-llc

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CHOREN