The Swiss climate-tech pioneer neustark is commissioning the first CO₂ source site in French-speaking Switzerland together with SIG
At the STEP d'Aïre site near Geneva, up to 1,500 tons of biogenic CO₂ per year will be captured in the future and transported to construction material recyclers in the region for permanent storage

The Aïre wastewater treatment plant - known as STEP (station d'épuration des eaux usées) d'Aïre in Geneva - treats wastewater from the canton of Geneva. Biogas has been produced from sewage residue since 2013. During this process, CO₂ is released into the atmosphere, which is now captured thanks to SIG's collaboration with neustark. Around 1,500 tonnes of CO₂ per year are used for other purposes. The CO₂ is liquefied on site and transported to building material recyclers, which permanently store the CO₂ in mineral waste streams such as demolition concrete.

“With SIG, we now also have a source in operation in western Switzerland that can supply our storage facilities in Geneva, Gland (VD), and Cornaux (NE), as well as future facilities in France near the STEP d'Aïre site,” says Valentin Gutknecht, co-founder and co-CEO of neustark. For SIG, this collaboration is a further step in its commitment to environmental change. “The originality of this project is to store CO₂ permanently, locally, and easily in building materials,” explains Frédéric Schulz, Director of Drinking Water and Gas at SIG. He adds: “You eliminate pollution, the CO₂ emissions, which is good for the climate and the environment.”

Expansion in Europa

The opening of the source plant is part of neustark’s extensive expansion. This year the company will enter the markets in France, the UK, and Austria, with 40 projects currently in the planning or construction phases.

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Media contacts

Elmar Vatter, media@neustark.com, +41 79 267 11 10

Véronique Tanerg, veronique.tanerg@sige-ge.ch, 079 103 17 68

About neustark

Neustark is a leading provider in the rapidly growing field of durable carbon removal, having developed and widely deployed a solution to permanently store CO₂ from the air in recycled mineral waste such as demolished concrete. Let’s remove CO₂, ton for ton – for a bright future of all generations on our planet!

About SIG

Services industriels de Genève (SIG) is active in the production and distribution of energy in the canton of Geneva. It supplies electricity, gas, drinking water, and heating. SIG also recycles waste to produce heat. The company is actively involved in the energy transition by developing renewable energies, energy-saving programs, and reducing CO₂ emissions. The company is helping to improve the quality of life of the people of Geneva while protecting the environment. SIG is an autonomous public company owned by the State of Geneva and the 45 communes of Geneva.