Alsace welcomes a state-of-the-art biogenic CO2 liquefaction plant. This unit, the product of an innovative collaboration between neustark, a Swiss pioneer in the removal of CO2, and its local partners, exemplifies the perfect alliance between agriculture and decarbonization technology.
This plant, capable of capturing and liquefying 4,200 tonnes of biogenic CO2 per year, will play an essential role in the collective effort to attain net zero by 2050. The captured CO2 will then be transported to a nearby site for storage in mineral waste streams. This solution of capture and storage of biogenic CO2 generates negative emissions, thus directly contributing to France’s ambitious climate goals.
The innovative process starts with the fermentation of the biomass made up of manure, liquid manure, crop residues and secondary crops at ABH, producing a biogas consisting of 60% methane and 40% CO2. The methane is transformed into biomethane, a green gas that will be able to meet the energy needs of homes in the region. The CO2, usually released into the atmosphere, is captured before it is emitted. This CO2 is then sent a few metres towards neustark’s liquefaction installation, where it is compressed and chilled to -20°C to be liquefied. Then, the liquid CO2 is transported by lorry to FEHR and other CO2 storage partners in the region.
At FEHR, a specialist in concrete manufacture, the CO₂ is injected into demolition concrete using the mineralization technology developed by neustark, thus creating a sustainable carbon sink.
«This synergy between agriculture, industry and recycling illustrates our vision of a circular economy for the benefit of the environment. We are especially proud to have commissioned our first source of CO2 in France, located very close to our storage partners, which enables an efficient and sustainable capture and storage process. This approach is essential for creating negative emissions and reaching our ambitious climate goals,» says Valentin Gutknecht, founder and joint-CEO of neustark.
«This partnership with neustark is part of the synoptic of the initial aims of the SAS ABH project concerning recovery of organic material. Methanisation is a means by which agriculture can provide a variety of environmental benefits. It helps to reinforce our energy independence and allows us to improve our materials balance. Thanks to our partnership, we can recover the CO2 by transforming it into a useful resource in various ways. After having obtained RED 2 certification specific to greenhouse gas emissions in 2023, all that remained to be done was to find a way to recover the CO2 emitted. In cooperation with GRDF we have identified some promising opportunities for the sequestration of biogenic CO2 from methanisation. Neustark has turned out to be the ideal solution for this challenge.» says Régis Huss, President of the collective ABH.
With a carbon removal efficiency of 93% over its lifetime, this technology is establishing itself as a promising solution for the removal of CO2 emissions. For every tonne of CO2 captured, around 930kg are removed permanently, which significantly helps with reaching climate goals.
This initiative is part of a wider process at neustark, which has already deployed its innovative solutions at 31 sites throughout Europe. After announcing joint projects with Lafarge à Gennevilliers and Fehr Group in Alsace, a total of five CO2 capture and storage projects are planned in France this year. The company is continuing with its expansion, aiming to accelerate its CO₂ storage site projects, thus transforming the largest waste stream in the world - demolition concrete – and other mineral wastes into a carbon sink.
About ABH
On 15 February 2017, the 15 associates of SAS ABH regrouped to collectively produce renewable energies and continue their activities in the country. The 14 farmers cultivate 1,240 hectares and recover 8,200 tonnes of manure, 5000 tonnes of liquid manure, 23,000 tonnes of crop residues and secondary crops. This material transformed into biogas allows the injection of 30 gigawatt hours of biomethane or the equivalent of consumption as natural gas in 5,000 homes.
A solar photovoltaic system produces 300 megawatt hours of electricity and the liquefaction of CO2 will thus complete total production of renewable energy by closing and somewhat improving the cycle of carbon recovery.
Economic Data:
Agriculteurs Biométhane Haguenau: €10 million investment in the methanisation unit
Employees: 3.1 FTE
Production: 2.8 million Nm3 biomethane or 30 GWh
Annual turnover: €3.2 million
Neustark buys all of ABH’s production