Storengy Deutschland, a company of ENGIE Group, and CM Fluids, a start-up and biogas specialist from Bavaria, are establishing a joint venture. The aim of this partnership is to produce bio-LNG for use as a climate-neutral fuel for buses and trucks.
The companies plan to build a bio-LNG liquefaction plant on the site of a biogas plant in the Nuremberg region. This biogas plant is fed with the remains of regional vegetable production, horse manure and grass mown at Nuremberg Airport. This renewably produced biogas shall be liquefied and processed to produce liquid bio-CH4 (CH4: biomethane) and bio-CO2.
The biomethane will ultimately be made available to customers in the transport sector for refueling. About 700 tons of bio-LNG will be produced each year. This means that around 2,800 vehicles can be refueled in a few minutes with a 250 kilogram tank filling. One tank filling corresponds to a range of up to 1,500 kilometers.
Vehicles powered by bio-LNG are completely CO2-neutral, environmentally friendly and economical. Compared with diesel buses, they emit up to 95% less particulate matter and cause 50% less noise. As part of the joint venture, the bio-LNG is produced regionally in a local biogas plant and achieves particularly high CO2 savings. Since the bio-LNG is produced directly at the biogas plant and transport routes are thus avoided, the ecological footprint is particularly small.
For Storengy Deutschland, this joint venture is an important step in consolidating its strategic focus in the renewable gases sector. More than 20 production sites for generating biomethane are already operated in France by the company’s French subsidiary, Storengy SAS. This experience and expertise will be used, together with CM Fluids, to drive the market ramp-up of bio-LNG in Germany. In line with the ENGIE Group’s mission, this will accelerate the transition to climate neutrality for both the economy and society.
“We see considerable potential in using bio-LNG to decarbonise the transport sector and achieve the German government’s climate protection goals,” said Daniel Mercer, Head of Business Development at Storengy Germany and Managing Director of the joint venture company. “With this project, we first want to expand our market position and then develop it further along the biomethane value chain. Our first major goal is to produce 1.2 TWh of biomethane per year by 2030.”
“CM Fluids develops fruitful collaborations on an equal footing with operators of existing biogas plants, plans the facilities, obtains the permits and takes care of the product marketing as well as the operation of the plants. It’s particularly in this broad field of activity that we’re also hoping for support from our new partner – we’re looking forward to working together,” commented Lena Friedmann, Head of Business Area at CM Fluids and Managing Director of the joint venture company.
Source: Storengy
