Air Liquide Launches Its Biomethane Activity in China

PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News:

Air Liquide (Paris:AI) invested and will operate its first biomethane production unit in China by the end of 2022. Located in Huai’an City, in the Jiangsu Province, the unit will have a production capacity of 75 GWh per year. This project demonstrates a circular economy and low-carbon approach, in line with the Group’s Sustainable Objectives and strategic plan ADVANCE.

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/y, 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.

The biomethane unit will follow a circular economy approach. The digestate, a byproduct material resulting from the biogas production, will be processed to produce bio-fertilizers. These bio-fertilizers will be used in the local agriculture, which, besides food products, will also generate some waste that will be processed in this unit to produce biomethane.

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.

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 for a yearly production capacity of about 1.4 TWh.

Emilie Mouren-Renouard, Member of the Air Liquide Executive Committee, supervising Innovation and Development, said: “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. This investment is in line with the priorities of our strategic plan ADVANCE for 2025, which links inseparably growth and sustainable future.”

Global Markets & Technologies

The GM&T World Business Unit delivers technological solutions - molecules, equipment and services - to support the fast moving markets of energy transition and deep tech, in order to contribute to Air Liquide sustainable growth. GM&T employs 2,400 people worldwide, and generated a 2021 revenue of 669 million euros.

A world leader in gases, technologies and services for Industry and Health, Air Liquide is present in 75 countries with approximately 66,400 employees and serves more than 3.8 million customers and patients. Oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen are essential small molecules for life, matter and energy. They embody Air Liquide’s scientific territory and have been at the core of the company’s activities since its creation in 1902.

Taking action today while preparing the future is at the heart of Air Liquide’s strategy. With ADVANCE, its strategic plan for 2025, Air Liquide is targeting a global performance, combining financial and extra-financial dimensions. Positioned on new markets, the Group benefits from major assets such as its business model combining resilience and strength, its ability to innovate and its technological expertise. The Group develops solutions contributing to climate and the energy transition—particularly with hydrogen—and takes action to progress in areas of healthcare, digital and high technologies.

Air Liquide’s revenue amounted to more than 23 billion euros in 2021. Air Liquide is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange (compartment A) and belongs to the CAC 40, CAC 40 ESG, EURO STOXX 50 and FTSE4Good indexes.

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Source: Air Liquide