Acting for the planet - Page 28 | Air Liquide

With biomethane,

waste becomes an excellent

source of energy

Each year, human activity produces more than 2 billion tons of municipal

waste worldwide, the majority of which ends up either burnt or buried,

whereas it could be recovered. To address this issue, organic materials

from farming and household or industrial waste can be converted into

biomethane, a clean and renewable energy source that can be used as a

substitute for fossil-based natural gas.

Air Liquide is aware of its potential and is developing technologies dedicated

to converting biogas into biomethane for three main usages: the production

of clean fuel, domestic and industrial use as a substitute for fossil fuels, and

low-carbon hydrogen production (without CO

emissions). The Group is thus

present throughout the entire value chain of this energy source. A unique

positioning which makes Air Liquide a key player in this market throughout

the world.

2.01 bn

This is the quantity,

in tons, of municipal waste

generated worldwide

in 2016.

If nothing changes, global

annual waste generation

is expected to jump

by +70% by 2050

(a)

World Bank - What a Waste 2.0 - 2018.

28 - Shareholder’s Guide Acting for the planet

Biomethane distribution station for vehicles

(clean mobility)

Consumers

Biomethane

production site

(methanization

& purication units)

Greenhouse

tomatoes culture

Farms

& agricultural sites

Biomethane

Local

delivery

Fertilizer

Food

waste

Vehicles

refueling

Manure

Shareholder’s Guide - 29Acting for the planet

Did you know?

The use of biomethane

as fuel for trucks reduces

their particulate matter

emissions by 85%,

emissions by 90%

and noise pollution by

50% compared with diesel

engines.

Nothing is lost, everything is transformed: the “Magic Factory”

example in Norway

In the Oslo region, Air Liquide has partnered with local players to develop a

circular economy based on the production and use of biomethane. How? A

digester processes household waste as well as manure from neighboring farms.

This waste ferments and emits biogas, which is captured and puriﬁ ed. Some

of this biogas becomes biomethane, which is used as fuel for vehicles in the

region, in particular for garbage trucks, thanks to a bio-NGV (Bio-Natural Gas

for Vehicles) station operated by Air Liquide. The rest (the digestate) as well as

the CO

removed from the biogas are used on-site as fertilizer for greenhouse

crops. This valorization of resources also generates growth and employment

for the region.