NextChem building biomethane plant in France

Maire Tecnimont S.p.A. subsidiary NextChem has been awarded a contract by Storengy to perform an engineering study for a waste wood and solid recovered fuel conversion plant to produce biomethane. 

This will be the first commercial project in the world of its kind to inject in the grid methane produced through pyrogasification of waste wood, kick-starting second-generation biomethane.

NextChem will start work once financing and permitting are completed, likely by the end of 2022.

NextChem will be responsible for the engineering and cost estimating for the syngas purification, methanation unit and methane upgrading of the plant, which will produce 11,000 tons a year of renewable and low carbon natural gas (biomethane).

“One of the main challenges today is to find solutions for the substitution of natural gas of fossil origin with sustainable alternatives: in order to reach this objective, our group is actively developing a range of solutions to produce biogas and syngas from waste,” said Alessandro Bernini, CEO of Maire Tecnimont Group and NextChem.

“We are proud of this engagement with Engie that allows us to broaden our green tech portfolio and further strengthen our presence in Europe in energy transition.”

French company Comessa will be responsible for the design and supply of the chemical reactor.

The technology to be used in the plant has already been successfully applied in a pilot plant near Lyon, owned by Engie, which validated the ability to produce biomethane.

NextChem and Storengy will also establish a broader cooperation agreement with the aim that NextChem would act as strategic partner, co-developer and co-licensor of the technology currently patented and owned by Engie.