Hanno Böck
@hanno.hboeck.de
Freelance Journalist. Industry Decarbonization, Climate, Energy, IT Security.
newsletter: https://industrydecarbonization.com/
web: https://hboeck.de/
newsletter: https://industrydecarbonization.com/
web: https://hboeck.de/
I'm mostly with you, but I don't see that we can really go towards "no burning whatsoever". Shipping, Aviation, some residual waste, I don't see other solutions. Still: Keep as much carbon in the loop as possible.
November 6, 2025 at 10:23 AM
I'm mostly with you, but I don't see that we can really go towards "no burning whatsoever". Shipping, Aviation, some residual waste, I don't see other solutions. Still: Keep as much carbon in the loop as possible.
Given Enerkem's poor performance in Edmonton, it is worth asking: why does Repsol think that the tech will work better in Spain? Is it worth additional money💶 from the EU🇪🇺 and indirectly Spanish🇪🇸 taxpayers? Unfortunately, neither Enerkem nor Repsol wanted to talk to me. More in my latest newsletter
November 6, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Given Enerkem's poor performance in Edmonton, it is worth asking: why does Repsol think that the tech will work better in Spain? Is it worth additional money💶 from the EU🇪🇺 and indirectly Spanish🇪🇸 taxpayers? Unfortunately, neither Enerkem nor Repsol wanted to talk to me. More in my latest newsletter
While Enerkem's projects in CA failed, one in Spain moves ahead. Ecoplanta at Repsol's Tarragona complex🧪🏭 is probably Enerkem's last chance to succeed. Ecoplanta only came to pass after plans for the extension of an energy tax🏛️ in Spain were dropped after the party Junts declined to support it
November 6, 2025 at 10:21 AM
While Enerkem's projects in CA failed, one in Spain moves ahead. Ecoplanta at Repsol's Tarragona complex🧪🏭 is probably Enerkem's last chance to succeed. Ecoplanta only came to pass after plans for the extension of an energy tax🏛️ in Spain were dropped after the party Junts declined to support it
Recyclage Carbone Varennes, a larger waste gasification plant coupled with an electrolyzer, collapsed after cost overruns+unwillingness of investors to provide additional money. It may find a future as an E-Methanol plant after it has been acquired by StormFisher Hydrogen, but without gasification.
November 6, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Recyclage Carbone Varennes, a larger waste gasification plant coupled with an electrolyzer, collapsed after cost overruns+unwillingness of investors to provide additional money. It may find a future as an E-Methanol plant after it has been acquired by StormFisher Hydrogen, but without gasification.
Enerkem looked like it had finally unlocked successful waste gasification, with the world's only waste-to-Methanol/Ethanol plant operating in Edmonton, Canada🇨🇦, since 2014. But in early 2024, it was shut down. It never came even close to the initially announced production capacity.
November 6, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Enerkem looked like it had finally unlocked successful waste gasification, with the world's only waste-to-Methanol/Ethanol plant operating in Edmonton, Canada🇨🇦, since 2014. But in early 2024, it was shut down. It never came even close to the initially announced production capacity.
Most existing CO2 storage is something called Enhanced Oil Recovery. Existing CCS usually uses easye CO2 sources, and gas-fired power plants are the opposite of that. A key determinant for the costs of CCS is the concentration of a CO2 source. Check my video:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aO72...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aO72...
Carbon Capture and Storage looks different from what you may think
YouTube video by Decarbonize Everything
www.youtube.com
November 3, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Most existing CO2 storage is something called Enhanced Oil Recovery. Existing CCS usually uses easye CO2 sources, and gas-fired power plants are the opposite of that. A key determinant for the costs of CCS is the concentration of a CO2 source. Check my video:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aO72...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aO72...
Sometimes, I feel we're talking about different worlds of CCS. One is the world of ideas that people may have about what CCS might look like. The other is how actual CCS projects look in the real world.
November 3, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Sometimes, I feel we're talking about different worlds of CCS. One is the world of ideas that people may have about what CCS might look like. The other is how actual CCS projects look in the real world.
But one thing is certain: I found this idea interesting enough that I wanted to tell my newsletter readers about it. I talked to Peregrine's CEO, Friðrik Lárusson.
If you find developments like this interesting, you can subscribe to my newsletter here:
industrydecarbonization.com/subscribe.html
If you find developments like this interesting, you can subscribe to my newsletter here:
industrydecarbonization.com/subscribe.html
Subscribe
Here you can subscribe to the Industry Decarbonization Newsletter via E-Mail.
industrydecarbonization.com
October 15, 2025 at 12:56 PM
But one thing is certain: I found this idea interesting enough that I wanted to tell my newsletter readers about it. I talked to Peregrine's CEO, Friðrik Lárusson.
If you find developments like this interesting, you can subscribe to my newsletter here:
industrydecarbonization.com/subscribe.html
If you find developments like this interesting, you can subscribe to my newsletter here:
industrydecarbonization.com/subscribe.html
They produce fertilizer from phosphate rock🪨, they need Sulfuric Acid🧪 and Ammonia (made from Hydrogen💧). A big player in the industry🪨🏭 - OCP Group - is interested.
Peregrine is an early-stage startup🚀, success is not guaranteed.
Peregrine is an early-stage startup🚀, success is not guaranteed.
October 15, 2025 at 12:55 PM
They produce fertilizer from phosphate rock🪨, they need Sulfuric Acid🧪 and Ammonia (made from Hydrogen💧). A big player in the industry🪨🏭 - OCP Group - is interested.
Peregrine is an early-stage startup🚀, success is not guaranteed.
Peregrine is an early-stage startup🚀, success is not guaranteed.
New ideas are welcome.
I recently learned about Peregrine Hydrogen. They make Hydrogen, but also something else: Sulfuric Acid🧪. They need ~½ the electricity⚡ compared to conventional electrolysis.
Yet, the real kicker is that there is an industry🏭 that needs both products:
Phosphate mines⛏️⚒️🪨
I recently learned about Peregrine Hydrogen. They make Hydrogen, but also something else: Sulfuric Acid🧪. They need ~½ the electricity⚡ compared to conventional electrolysis.
Yet, the real kicker is that there is an industry🏭 that needs both products:
Phosphate mines⛏️⚒️🪨
October 15, 2025 at 12:55 PM
New ideas are welcome.
I recently learned about Peregrine Hydrogen. They make Hydrogen, but also something else: Sulfuric Acid🧪. They need ~½ the electricity⚡ compared to conventional electrolysis.
Yet, the real kicker is that there is an industry🏭 that needs both products:
Phosphate mines⛏️⚒️🪨
I recently learned about Peregrine Hydrogen. They make Hydrogen, but also something else: Sulfuric Acid🧪. They need ~½ the electricity⚡ compared to conventional electrolysis.
Yet, the real kicker is that there is an industry🏭 that needs both products:
Phosphate mines⛏️⚒️🪨
If you find topics like this interesting, consider subscribing to my newsletter: industrydecarbonization.com/subscribe.html
Subscribe
Here you can subscribe to the Industry Decarbonization Newsletter via E-Mail.
industrydecarbonization.com
September 30, 2025 at 5:14 PM
If you find topics like this interesting, consider subscribing to my newsletter: industrydecarbonization.com/subscribe.html
The Tønder biogas plant by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners delivers CO2 for the Kasso E-Methanol plant by European Energy.
September 30, 2025 at 5:14 PM
The Tønder biogas plant by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners delivers CO2 for the Kasso E-Methanol plant by European Energy.
It's a form of BECCS (Bio Energy with CCS), but it is very different from "traditional BECCS" (aka: CCS on bioenergy power plants🪵🔥).
While Biomethane with CCS is not exactly at the center of the CCS debate, companies like neustark, The Carbon Removers, Bigadan, BioCirc are working on it.
While Biomethane with CCS is not exactly at the center of the CCS debate, companies like neustark, The Carbon Removers, Bigadan, BioCirc are working on it.
September 30, 2025 at 5:14 PM
It's a form of BECCS (Bio Energy with CCS), but it is very different from "traditional BECCS" (aka: CCS on bioenergy power plants🪵🔥).
While Biomethane with CCS is not exactly at the center of the CCS debate, companies like neustark, The Carbon Removers, Bigadan, BioCirc are working on it.
While Biomethane with CCS is not exactly at the center of the CCS debate, companies like neustark, The Carbon Removers, Bigadan, BioCirc are working on it.
Biogas from Anaerobic Digestion also contains CO2, and it can be upgraded to Biomethane, also known as Renewable Natural Gas (RNG), by removing CO2. Biomethane upgraders are, in a sense, the renewable🌱 equivalent to fossil gas upgraders.
They provide an easy source for biogenic🌿 CO2.
They provide an easy source for biogenic🌿 CO2.
September 30, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Biogas from Anaerobic Digestion also contains CO2, and it can be upgraded to Biomethane, also known as Renewable Natural Gas (RNG), by removing CO2. Biomethane upgraders are, in a sense, the renewable🌱 equivalent to fossil gas upgraders.
They provide an easy source for biogenic🌿 CO2.
They provide an easy source for biogenic🌿 CO2.
Apart from the fact that it's usually used for Enhanced Oil Recovery, the sources are, in most cases, fossil gas upgraders💨🏭
Fossil gas💨 usually contains CO2 that needs to be removed. Gas upgraders provide CO2 in high concentrations. Capturing it is cheap.
Fossil gas💨 usually contains CO2 that needs to be removed. Gas upgraders provide CO2 in high concentrations. Capturing it is cheap.
September 30, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Apart from the fact that it's usually used for Enhanced Oil Recovery, the sources are, in most cases, fossil gas upgraders💨🏭
Fossil gas💨 usually contains CO2 that needs to be removed. Gas upgraders provide CO2 in high concentrations. Capturing it is cheap.
Fossil gas💨 usually contains CO2 that needs to be removed. Gas upgraders provide CO2 in high concentrations. Capturing it is cheap.
CCS is a controversial topic to begin with. That has a lot to do with the fact that many see it - often rightfully so - as a delay strategy by the fossil fuel🛢️ industry.
While people have power plants or cement factories in mind, real-world CCS looks quite different.
While people have power plants or cement factories in mind, real-world CCS looks quite different.
September 30, 2025 at 5:13 PM
CCS is a controversial topic to begin with. That has a lot to do with the fact that many see it - often rightfully so - as a delay strategy by the fossil fuel🛢️ industry.
While people have power plants or cement factories in mind, real-world CCS looks quite different.
While people have power plants or cement factories in mind, real-world CCS looks quite different.
I would have liked to discuss this with ArcelorMittal, and had many questions. Unfortunately, the company refused to answer any of them and was not available for an interview.
More in my latest newsletter: industrydecarbonization.com/news/uncerta...
More in my latest newsletter: industrydecarbonization.com/news/uncerta...
Uncertain Future for ArcelorMittal's Smart Carbon Projects in Belgium
Steel giant ArcelorMittal has been reluctant to invest into Hydrogen-based steelmaking. But its alternatives it calls Smart Carbon are not doing great either. Its flagship Steelanol project in Belgium...
industrydecarbonization.com
August 28, 2025 at 10:55 AM
I would have liked to discuss this with ArcelorMittal, and had many questions. Unfortunately, the company refused to answer any of them and was not available for an interview.
More in my latest newsletter: industrydecarbonization.com/news/uncerta...
More in my latest newsletter: industrydecarbonization.com/news/uncerta...
However, climate campaigners from @steelwatch.bsky.social see Smart Carbon as a distraction, and they have a point. It is hard to see how Smart Carbon can achieve what ArcelorMittal promises.
August 28, 2025 at 10:55 AM
However, climate campaigners from @steelwatch.bsky.social see Smart Carbon as a distraction, and they have a point. It is hard to see how Smart Carbon can achieve what ArcelorMittal promises.
These projects are part of a larger strategy by ArcelorMittal called Smart Carbon. ArcelorMittal has been more reluctant than others to invest into Hydrogen/DRI and has communicated that it sees Smart Carbon as an alternative towards zero-carbon steel.
August 28, 2025 at 10:55 AM
These projects are part of a larger strategy by ArcelorMittal called Smart Carbon. ArcelorMittal has been more reluctant than others to invest into Hydrogen/DRI and has communicated that it sees Smart Carbon as an alternative towards zero-carbon steel.
Steelanol has a "sister project" called Torero, a Biocoal plant. And it appears Torero is not working as planned. This is crucial for Steelanol, because only the combination of Biocoal and off-gas conversion to Ethanol can legitimately be called Bioethanol.
August 28, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Steelanol has a "sister project" called Torero, a Biocoal plant. And it appears Torero is not working as planned. This is crucial for Steelanol, because only the combination of Biocoal and off-gas conversion to Ethanol can legitimately be called Bioethanol.