Air Liquide Establishes New Low-carbon Gas Production Platform in Québec's New Energy Transition Valley
PARIS, October 24, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News:
Through an investment of more than 140 million euros (more than 200 million Canadian dollars), Air Liquide (Paris:AI) announces that it will establish in Bécancour, Québec (Canada), a breakthrough platform supplying low-carbon industrial gases including hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and argon. In addition to the Group’s 20 MW PEM electrolyzer, currently the world’s largest in operation, the infrastructure created by Air Liquide will include a new air separation unit producing renewable oxygen and nitrogen, as well as liquid storage capacity, connected by a local pipeline network to best serve its customers. This Air Liquide low-carbon production platform, in line with the industrial and port zone's drive to decarbonize, makes Bécancour a unique place for the Group to produce renewable industrial gases and develop offers for customers engaged in the energy transition.
Air Liquide will build, own and operate a production and distribution infrastructure, including a new air separation unit (ASU) producing oxygen, nitrogen and argon; as well as a liquid storage capacity. The new ASU will be powered by renewable energy from hydropower sources, in line with Air Liquide's ADVANCE plan to reduce its CO2 emissions by 33% by 2035. Adding a total oxygen production capacity of 850 tonnes per day, the new infrastructure will primarily supply customers manufacturing battery components for electric vehicles via long term contracts and should be operational in 2025.
The project will also connect its Bécancour PEM electrolyzer, enabling the recovery and valorization of renewable oxygen from the hydrogen production. Leveraging its production platform in the Bécancour port and industrial park, the Group will be able to offer a sustainable, reliable and competitive solution to its customers today and to meet additional market demand tomorrow.
As part of Québec's development as an energy transition hub, this new investment will support growth in the electric vehicle battery sector, contributing to the decarbonization of mobility. It will initially supply battery component manufacturers, including Ecopro CAM Canada (EcoProBM + Ford + SKO), and will have the capacity to supply others in the Bécancour area as well as bulk clients in Eastern Canada.
Matthieu Giard, Chief Executive Officer of the Americas Hub, comments: "Québec stands at the forefront of the energy transition, actively fostering a thriving industrial ecosystem centered on battery components, hydrogen and renewable energy. The electric vehicle battery market is a rapidly expanding frontier, giving rise to a landscape of opportunities and the emergence of ecosystems dedicated to its support and advancement. The region boasts a wealth of valuable assets, including its hydro power resources, a skilled workforce, and a dynamic innovation ecosystem. Operating in Bécancour for more than 35 years, we are delighted to be able to support the development of a growing industry with a reliable and competitive low-carbon offer."
Air Liquide in Canada Air Liquide started its activity in Canada in 1911 and now has a team of more than 2,400 employees working to serve more than 200,000 customers and patients across Canada. In all of the country’s key industrial regions from coast to coast, Air Liquide offers innovative solutions — gas, equipment and services — in a wide variety of sectors: aeronautics, automotive, agri-food industries, chemical, metallurgy, metal fabrication, mining, oil and gas and healthcare. |
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A world leader in gases, technologies and services for Industry and Health, Air Liquide is present in 73 countries with approximately 67,100 employees and serves more than 3.9 million customers and patients. Oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen are essential small molecules for life, matter and energy. They embody Air Liquide’s scientific territory and have been at the core of the company’s activities since its creation in 1902.
Taking action today while preparing the future is at the heart of Air Liquide’s strategy. With ADVANCE, its strategic plan for 2025, Air Liquide is targeting a global performance, combining financial and extra-financial dimensions. Positioned on new markets, the Group benefits from major assets such as its business model combining resilience and strength, its ability to innovate and its technological expertise. The Group develops solutions contributing to climate and the energy transition—particularly with hydrogen—and takes action to progress in areas of healthcare, digital and high technologies.
Air Liquide’s revenue amounted to more than 29.9 billion euros in 2022. Air Liquide is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange (compartment A) and belongs to the CAC 40, CAC 40 ESG, EURO STOXX 50, FTSE4Good and DJSI Europe indexes.
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