Montreal, November 17, 2021 — The material recovery project in El Morell, Ecoplanta Molecular Solutions, the result of a partnership between Enerkem, SUEZ Recycling & Recovery Spain and Repsol, is one of the seven projects pre-selected by the European Commission Innovation Fund for its contribution to the fight against climate change. It is the only project from Spain pre-selected for this European Commission Innovation Fund, which supports highly innovative technologies and large European projects resulting in significant reductions in GHG emissions. With its commitment, the European Union supports the promoters of these highly innovative projects in their efforts to implement their technology, in this specific instance, gasification technology which has been specifically highlighted for its innovation, its reduction of carbon emissions and its scalability.
With its emphasis on maximizing the transformation of municipal solid waste and promotion of recycling and residual material recovery, the project is a groundbreaking illustration of the circular economy. The new plant will process some 400,000 tonnes of non-recyclable municipal solid waste from nearby municipalities and will produce around 220,000 tonnes of methanol annually. This methanol will be used as a feedstock to produce renewable chemicals or advanced biofuels, cutting GHG emission by some 200,000 tonnes each year and reducing waste that would otherwise end up in landfills. The plant, which is scheduled to be operational in 2025, will provide an industrial solution to the growing demand for renewable methanol, which is expected to grow significantly in the coming years.
By recovering waste in a real circular economy, Ecoplanta will contribute strongly to the improvement of residual materials recovery rates in Spain and to the achievement of the EU’s 2035 targets to reduce the volume of solid urban waste currently going to landfill, consolidating itself as a lower environmental impact alternative to incineration.
This project will accelerate the transition from a linear resource-based economic model to a circular economic model, which is one of the most pressing economic, political and social challenges of our time.
About Repsol
Repsol is a global multi-energy supplier that facilitates the transition to a lower-emission energy model. It owns low-emission electricity generation assets and is developing several photovoltaic and wind renewable energy projects. Repsol has set itself the ambitious goal of being a company with zero net emissions by 2050 and has had a circular economy strategy in place since 2016, which it applies throughout the company’s value chain, from obtaining raw materials to marketing products and services.
Focused on the circular economy, the company’s chemical business will also make a decisive contribution to a more decarbonised economy and is committed to the efficiency of its industrial chemical processes. Its products are used to manufacture everyday objects that improve people’s quality of life, well-being and safety. Its wide range of chemical products extends from base petrochemicals to derivatives, and includes a wide range of polyolefins, all of which are 100% recyclable. The company also has three large petrochemical facilities in Europe where differentiated high value-added products are developed.
For more information, please visit: www.repsol.com
About Enerkem
Enerkem has developed and commercialises a disruptive technology for the production of advanced biofuels and renewable chemicals from non-recyclable waste. Headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Enerkem operates a large-scale commercial demonstration facility in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, as well as an innovation centre in Quebec. A full-scale commercial facility is currently under construction in Varennes, Quebec, Canada, and is scheduled for commissioning in 2023. Enerkem’s technology is an excellent example of how a true circular economy can be achieved by diversifying the energy mix and making everyday products greener, while offering a smart and sustainable alternative to landfill and incineration.
For more information, visit www.enerkem.com, follow us on Twitter@Enerkem or consult our LinkedIn or Facebook pages.
About SUEZ Recycling & recovery Spain
SUEZ Recycling & recovery Spain is the division of SUEZ that manages the projects regarding recycling and recovery in Spain. SUEZ as a group is present in the five continents with 90 000 people, committed to preserve our environment’s natural capital: water, soil, and air. SUEZ provides innovative and resilient solutions in water management, waste recovery, site remediation and air treatment, optimizing municipalities’ and industries’ resource management improving their environmental and economic performance.
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Media Relations contact:
Repsol
Communication and Institutional
Relations Executive Managing Division
prensa@repsol.com
Chemicals Division
communicationschemicals@repsol.com
Enerkem
communications@enerkem.com
514 375-7800
SUEZ Espagne
mar.coma@suez.com
