Air Liquide Invests €40M to Boost Efficiency and Cut CO₂ at Stade Site

At a glance
  • Air Liquide will invest €40 million to modernize its Stade site.
  • The modernization includes two Air Separation Units and one Partial Oxidation plant.
  • A new CO₂ recycling solution will be added, improving energy efficiency by 15%.
  • The project aims to reduce CO₂ emissions by 15,000 tonnes/year by 2024.

Investment and Modernization

Air Liquide and Dow have renewed their industrial gas supply agreement at the Stade site in Lower Saxony, Germany. As part of this agreement, Air Liquide will invest nearly €40 million to modernize its existing production assets. This includes two Air Separation Units (ASU) and one Partial Oxidation plant (POX), along with the addition of a new CO₂ recycling solution.

Efficiency and Emissions Reduction

The modernization aims to enhance operational efficiency and significantly reduce CO₂ emissions. The new CO₂ recycling solution will enable a circular use of the CO₂ produced, leading to a 15% increase in energy efficiency. This initiative is expected to cut emissions by approximately 15,000 tonnes per year, which accounts for 80% of the direct CO₂ emissions at the Air Liquide site.

Timeline

The modernization of these assets is scheduled for completion in 2024. Air Liquide has been supplying industrial gases to Dow at the Stade site for over 20 years, and this investment marks a significant step in their long-term collaboration.

Strategic Alignment

This investment aligns with Air Liquide’s ADVANCE strategic plan, which includes the objective of reducing the Group’s carbon emissions by one-third by 2035. The project underscores the importance of both groundbreaking greenfield projects and incremental improvements to existing facilities in achieving industrial transformation and climate goals.