Abengoa deal in the pipeline

Abengoa Bioenergy Netherlands is involved in a deal to pipe waste carbon dioxide from its bioethanol plant in Rotterdam to greenhouses in the Zuidplaspolder within an area of around 550 hectares.

The European Commission (EC) authorised the move, under EU state aid rules, for a €5 million investment aid for the pipeline infrastructure.

The waste CO2 will be used to enhance crop growth, reducing the current use of CO2 in flue gases obtained through the burning of natural gas in boilers and cogeneration installations.

‘The Dutch aid favours the recyling of waste CO2 from local industry without unduly distorting competition. It reduces greenhouse gas emissions and increases the level of environmental protection in the EU,’ Commission VP in charge of competition policy Joaquín Almunia says.

The Commission approved the investment aid that the Dutch authorities intend to grant to Bio Supply CV, a member of the Organic CO2 for the Assimilation of Plants group.

The greenhouses currently produce their own CO2 using cogeneration systems or gas fired boilers, also in mild weather conditions when heat is not needed (summer heating). OCAP is a joint-venture of Volker Wessels and Linde Gas.

It will mean savings of 25 million m³ of natural gas wastefully burned each year, avoiding annual CO2 emissions of 45,000 tonnes.