BASF and ExxonMobil have formed a strategic collaboration to advance methane pyrolysis technology, a next step toward delivering efficient, cost-competitive low-emission hydrogen solutions for industrial use. The companies have signed a joint development agreement to co-develop methane pyrolysis technology, including plans to construct a demonstration plant aimed at commercial readiness.
Repsol is entering the biomethane market with an agreement to take a 40% shareholding in Genia Bioenergy. This alliance allows Repsol to add significant human and technical capabilities to position itself early in this growing sector. Biomethane is considered strategic by the European Union – which has set itself an ambition to increase its production eightfold by 2030 compared to that recorded in 2022 – in its RePower EU program. The Spanish Gas Association (Sedigas) estimates that biomethane could account for almost half of Spain’s natural gas consumption.
Versalis, the chemical division of Italian oil giant Eni, met last week in Rome with representatives of national and local trade unions to present its business plan for the next four years. According to the company, more than 1.1 billion euros have been spent in the last four years and the plan is to continue with investments focused on four strategic areas: specialization, circularity, chemistry from renewables and efficiency.
Versalis, Eni’s chemical company, and BTS Biogas, an Italian company in the building and managing sector of biogas plants, have agreed to develop and commercialise an innovative technology for the production of biogas and biomethane from residual lignocellulosic biomass.
Carrefour, the French multinational retailer headquartered in Boulogne Billancourt, has kicked off roll-out of its bioNGV (a 100% renewable energy using waste to produce biogas) service stations, so it can expand its fleet of vehicles running on biomethane. Its aim before the end of 2017 is to have
9 service stations so that 200 lorries can make clean, silent deliveries to 250 urban stores in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux and Lille.
IL BIOECONOMISTA 