France-headed industrial gas major Air Liquide has announced that it has invested and will operate its first biomethane aka renewable natural gas (RNG) production unit in China by the end of 2022.
This new unit will produce biogas from agricultural and livestock waste coming from local farms and purify it into biomethane.
With a total production capacity of 75 GWh per annum, the unit will inject the biomethane into the city gas grid to be used for household consumption and also generate electricity for its own consumption and injection into the electrical grid.
Circular economy approach
According to the company, this project demonstrates a circular economy and low-carbon approach, in line with the Group’s Sustainable Objectives and strategic plan ADVANCE.
The digestate, a byproduct material resulting from biogas production, will be processed to produce biofertilizers.
These biofertilizers will be used in local agriculture, which, besides food products, will also generate some waste that will be processed in this unit to produce biomethane.
Dynamic market
Biomethane has a high potential in China in particular as the Chinese government supports projects promoting the valorization of waste as part of its financial plans for the development of rural regions.
We are pleased to start this first biomethane project in China, a dynamic market, and to continue expanding this activity with our partners in key countries. Biomethane follows a circular economy approach and contributes to the reduction of CO2 emissions, thus to the development of a low-carbon society, said Emilie Mouren-Renouard, Member of the Air Liquide Executive Committee, supervising Innovation and Development.
Air Liquide has developed competencies throughout the whole biomethane value chain, starting with biogas production from waste, to its purification into biomethane, liquefaction, storage, and transportation to distribution.
Air Liquide now has 21 biomethane operational production units in the world with a combined annual production capacity of about 1.4 TWh.
This investment is in line with the priorities of our strategic plan ADVANCE for 2025, which links inseparably growth and sustainable future, ended Emilie Mouren-Renouard.
