The facilities will be built in Truccazzano, Milan and Fontanella, Bergamo with local partner Dentro il Sole, recycling organic material from agricultural and livestock activities and converting it into biomethane.

Start-up of both units, which will have a total capacity of 3,200 t/y, is scheduled for the second quarter of 2021.

Air Liquide added that the facilities will also be complemented by a filling station that will supply bio-liquified natural gas and bio-compressed natural gas to local transport companies, and be capable of refueling up to 100 trucks per day.

“These new investments illustrate our ability to support road transport customers by offering efficient solutions that enable them to lower their carbon footprint,” said Emilie Mouren-Renouard, member of the Air Liquide executive committee, in charge of Innovation, Digital & IT, Intellectual Property and Global Markets & Technologies World Business Unit. “With these two new production units in Italy, Air Liquide continues to develop its biomethane activity in Europe. In line with its climate objectives, Air Liquide is taking actions with ecosystems to meet the challenges of the energy transition.”

Air Liquide converts agricultural, domestic and industrial waste to biomethane via biogas purification technology, which is based on its proprietary patented polymer membranes. The company has 20 biomethane plants worldwide and more than 80 stations across Europe distributing bio-natural gas for vehicles.

Author: Elaine Burridge, Freelance Journalist