Global multi-energy company TotalEnergies has purchased a 20% stake in a Finland-based start-up in a move that could help accelerate the development of the biogas value chain.
The start-up, Ductor, has developed an innovative technology to process high nitrogen organic waste such as poultry manure, which is usually difficult to use for biomethane production.
In addition to its investment, TotalEnergies has formed a partnership with Ductor to develop and invest in several biomethane production projects, primarily in the US and Europe.
With a pipeline of 15-20 projects to its name, Ductor will take charge of production of the sustainable biofertilisers while TotalEnergies will market the production of the biomethane.
Commenting on the announcement, Olivier Guerrini, Vice President, Biogas at TotalEnergies, said, “We are pleased to partner with Ductor, a start-up with an innovative pre-treatment technology that will enable us to develop new biomethane production projects, using organic waste that is currently not, or only slightly, reused.”
“By accelerating the biogas chain, this technology contributes directly to the energy transition and to TotalEnergies’ ambition of producing 20 TWh (terawatt hours) of biogas worldwide by 2030.”
In the joint venture, Ductor will take responsibility for screening opportunities, securing land, feedstock, engineering, obtaining permits and conducting feasibility studies.
TotalEnergies will take part in the development, construction and operational phase, as well as being the off taker of all produced renewable natural gas and its associated environmental attributes.
According to Ductor, it will also off-take and market the specialty fertilisers such as liquid nitrogen fertilisers produced at the facilities – a product that has been registered for use in organic farming by the CDFA (California Department of Food and Agriculture) since 2021.
“Ductor has identified a significant opportunity pipeline for future biogas and sustainable organic fertiliser plants ready for development and commercialisation, and the partnership with TotalEnergies will allow us to move forward with executing that pipeline and towards the construction of the first integrated fertiliser and biogas project.”
“We live in times where local energy production, food security and global warming are essential topics for everyone.”
“Ductor’s truly circular solution for repurposing high-grade organic residues into energy and fertiliser is part of the answer.”
