Lyon, 27 October 2022 – Elyse Energy and Lafarge France signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) this summer, working together to reduce carbon intensity in the French industry, in particular cement works, through the production of e-methanol. As part of its eM-France programme, Elyse Energy wishes to place its expertise in carbon capture and the production of synthetic molecules at the service of Lafarge, who wishes to launch new initiatives to reuse its unavoidable CO2.
AN MOU AS A FIRST STEP TOWARDS REDUCING CARBON INTENSITY IN THE CEMENT INDUSTRY
In July 2022, the two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to combine their expertise with a view to enhancing CO2 capture in Lafarge cement plants in France and using these molecules in Elyse Energy’s e-methanol production process.
This MOU is a first step in the genuine and firm mutual commitment between the two companies to accelerate the reduction in the carbon intensity of the French industry by capturing unavoidable CO2. This CO2 may then be converted into fuels or chemical building blocks, which are less polluting and with a low-carbon product life cycle, notably e-methanol. These products will subsequently be used in the green chemistry sector to help reduce their carbon footprint.
AN INITIAL AGREEMENT AS PART OF ELYSE ENERGY’S EM-FRANCE PROGRAMME
This partnership is in keeping with Elyse Energy’s eM-France programme. This ambitious programme includes the development, construction and operation of several e-methanol production plants in France, based on CO2 and green hydrogen by water electrolysis supplied by low-carbon electricity. The entire eM-France programme aims at producing 500,000 tonnes of e-methanol per year by 2030. This programme would make it possible not only to supplement the availability of sequestration solutions to meet the quantities of carbon emitted – and that can be captured – on Lafarge sites, but also to enhance associated industrial synergies (recovery of oxygen co-produced and heat, use of e-methanol, etc.). Thus, in accordance with its core mission, Elyse Energy wishes to help Lafarge and the French industry in general reduce their carbon intensity by providing them with tangible solutions.
Lafarge France is already committed to a path aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. In addition to activating direct levers for reducing its emissions, Lafarge France also wishes to develop solutions for the capture and use of CO2 emitted by its activities, thereby helping to reduce the carbon intensity of its manufacturing process and products. By way of indication, Lafarge may already entrust Elyse Energy with 200,000 tonnes of CO2 from its industrial facilities.
For several years, Lafarge has made a firm commitment to significantly reducing the carbon intensity of its activities, in keeping with the objectives of the Paris Agreement on the limitation of global warming to 1.5°C by 2050. In 2030, Lafarge intends to reduce its carbon footprint to 440kgCO2/t of cement – compared with 531kg/t today – and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 for scope 1 of its activities. This entire path has been scientifically validated by SBTI. These ambitious objectives require massive investments to modernise the company’s industrial equipment and facilitate the deployment of disruptive innovations, among which CO2 capture is a key driver for reducing the carbon intensity of the cement industry. Elyse Energy proposes tangible solutions to address these challenges.
Thomas de Charrette, Director of carbon intensity reduction, Lafarge France: “CO2 capture and reuse play a key complementary role in the carbon intensity reduction strategy of our business. Partnering with Elyse Energy to bring about CO2 recovery solutions, for example in green chemistry, close to our production sites, is a viable way to meet our commitments to reducing the carbon weight of our products while promoting the development of a sustainable circular economy”.
Cédric de Saint-Jouan, Président du Comité Stratégique d’Elyse Energy : « Nous sommes très heureux d’accompagner Lafarge dans sa stratégie de décarbonation sur le territoire national. Nous concevons nos unités de production afin de maximiser les synergies avec les industriels existants : ici en encourageant le captage et la réutilisation du CO2 sur site, localement. Avec cette nouvelle « économie circulaire du CO2 », nous voulons contribuer à renforcer la compétitivité d’une industrie française pérenne et décarbonée. »