Cryopur was created in 2015 by Denis Clodic, former director of the Center for Energy and Processes at Mines ParisTech and co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for his contributions to the IPCC (Intergovernmental Group of Experts on climate change).
Capitalizing on 35 years of Research & Development, and French Tech Ambassador at the COP21, Cryopur has developed a breakthrough patented technology that purifies biogas into Bio-CO2 and Biomethane before liquefying it into LBG. The Bio-CO2 produced through the Cryopur process can be recovered in short circuits throughout the entire value chain, including by food industry players; LBG is sold to consumers as a substitute for fossil fuels.
Cryopur's technology is based on a cryogenic system that combines a system of integrated refrigeration cascades to separate the different gas components and liquefy them.
Thanks to these processes based on seven major families of international patents, the LBG and Bio-CO2 obtained thus meet the needs of all types of application.
In addition, the processes invented by Cryopur combining purification and liquefaction have a decisive competitive advantage, particularly in terms of energy costs and gives Cryopur a unique positioning compared to biogas purification techniques without liquefaction such as membrane processes.
Indeed, this technology allows farmers, cooperatives, industrialists, and energy companies to efficiently recover the full energy potential of their products and waste while reducing methane and CO2 emissions.
Nearly €30 million have thus been invested in the development of the Cryopur process and its implementation. The technology is now in operation, particularly in the United Kingdom and Norway at 2 biogas production sites operated by leading industrial and agricultural players (Greenville and Renevo), with a total production capacity to date of 5,000 tons of LBG and 5,000 tons of Bio-CO2 per year.
In addition to the existing activities of FDE, focused mainly on the reduction of CO2eq emissions through the capture and recovery of mine gas, the group now includes the upgrading and liquefaction of all types of gas (biogas, landfill gas, flare, rare gas, etc.). The integration of Cryopur will therefore allow to maximize the value of FDE's large gas reserves but also to strengthen its position on the strategic green gas and CO2 markets.
FDE's industrial optimization and project management know-how will also make it possible to develop the patented technologies developed by Cryopur even more efficiently by applying the operator model successfully developed by FDE on mine gas activities and solar in France and Belgium to the LBG and Bio-CO2 markets.
These various synergies will thus create a leading European player in the production of energy from recovered or renewable gas.
FDE estimates there are several tens of thousands of sites worldwide where the production of LBG and/or Bio-CO2 from recovered or renewable gas can be implemented. Cryopur's technology thus has very significant potential since less than 0.1% of the sites surveyed use these resources in the form of LBG and/or Bio-CO2.
The portfolio of projects being finalized is already very solid with 7 new European projects currently under discussion for an anticipated amount of over €35 million, enabling FDE to become one of the European leaders in the production of LBG and of Bio-CO2.
In 2021, Cryopur achieved revenues of €4.9M. The acquisition consideration amounts to €2.5M with a possible additional remuneration of €3M under certain conditions. The acquisition is financed by the group's available cash and FDE keeps its strong financing capacity in order to pursue its development projects, including those of its new subsidiary, Cryopur.
Denis Clodic, founder and technical director of Cryopur, said, "The development of an innovative industrial company for the production of renewable fuel and the decarbonization of biogas, but also of flare gas and industrial fumes, requires solid expertise and an agile approach. The FDE and Cryopur teams have this know-how and this common ambition to take a leading position in the new LBG and fuel decarbonation markets."
Julien Moulin, President of FDE explains, “The acquisition of Cryopur is a fundamental and structuring step in the continuous development of FDE in the green gas and CO2 sectors. I am delighted to welcome Denis Clodic, a world reference for his work within the framework of the IPCC, and his entire team within the FDE group. I would also like to thank Geoffroy Mattlinger, who, as Chairman of Cryopur, enabled the company's international development and its merger with FDE in order to create a European leader in renewable energies."
