Located at ArcelorMittal’s steel plant in Ghent, Belgium, the plant will produce advanced bioethanol from waste gases from the steelmaking process. Advanced bioethanol is a second generation of biofuel manufactured from non-food biomass.
Construction of the facility is already underway, and the plant is planned to become operational at the end of 2020. It is expected to produce 80 million litres of bioethanol annually.
Air Liquide Engineering and Construction will provide a technology solution that purified the offgas coming from the blast furnance. These gases will then be injected into a bioreactor to produce bioethanol.
Air Liquide said this technology illustrates its capacity to develop sustainable solutions supporting its customers in the steel industry to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
François Venet, Senior Vice-President Strategy and member of the Air Liquide group’s Executive Committee supervising the Large Industries Business Line and Engineering & Construction, stated, ”This new partnership with ArcelorMittal demonstrates our shared commitment to contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This is also a clear illustration of the initiatives Air Liquide has committed to as part of its Climate Objectives.”
“We strive to push the boundaries of innovation to lower the carbon footprint of the industry and develop technology solutions for our customers to contribute to the energy transition.”
The project is being led by ArcelorMittal together with its partner carbon recycling companyLanzatech, and supported by EU Horizon 2020 – the EU research and innovation programme.