New plant for the mineralisation of CO2 in Alsace
Neustark has set up a commercial plant for the permanent storage of CO2 in demolition concrete at the Fehr company in Bischwiller. This enables the company, which specialises in ready-mixed concrete and prefabricated concrete elements, to bind 1200 tonnes of CO2 per year.
Neustark and Fehr are joining forces for the permanent storage of CO2 in recycled concrete. The two partners have opened the first commercial CO2 storage facility in Alsace, Neustark writes in a press release. Bern-based ClimateTech has developed a technology with which CO2 captured from biogas plants can be stored in demolition concrete. At Fehr in Bischwiller, the aim is to bind 1200 tonnes of CO2 every year.
The family-run company Fehr operates ten concrete plants and four production facilities for precast concrete elements. “Fehr is one of the pioneers of sustainable building materials in France,” said Valentin Gutknecht, co-founder and co-CEO of Neustark, in the press release. “Through our strategic partnership, we can implement our innovative and ready-to-use technology and thus offer a local alternative to storing CO2 underground or in the sea.”
Fehr receives the CO2 from a nearby plant for the production of biomethane. At the production facility in Bischwiller, it is added to the demolition concrete, where it mineralises within hours thanks to Neustark’s technology. Another part of the CO2 is fed into the mixed water produced during concrete production, where it reacts with the mineral substances in the mixed water and forms stable salts (carbonates) thanks to Neustark’s technology. In addition to the permanent storage of CO2, this also reduces the costs for the disposal of the mixed water, writes Neustark.