Nesselnbach CO₂ liquefaction, Switzerland

In 2023, Regionalwerke AG Baden and Recycling Energie AG celebrated the start of operations of the CO₂ liquefaction facility in Nesselnbach, Canton Aargau. Kanadevia Inova developed the plant for turnkey delivery on behalf of the operating company CO₂ Energie AG.

The project is an example of best practices in terms of optimising circularity and maximising the recycling of resources. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the upgrading of biogas that was previously released into the environment is now used in industrial applications, for example in processes in the pharmaceutical, medical and food industries.

The Recycling Energie AG site includes a biogas plant whose raw gas has already been refined by Regionalwerke AG Baden (RWB) since 2018 to produce biomethane, a natural gas substitute, which can be fed into the grid. The CO₂ separated in the gas treatment process was usually released into the atmosphere. 

The expansion the plant by Kanadevia Inova makes it possible to use this by-product. The CO₂ is fed from the gas upgrading plant to the liquefaction unit where it is purified, filtered and dehydrated in several sub-steps. The gas is then liquefied by cooling it to minus 24 degrees Celsius. This allows it to be compressed into tanks for storage and transport.

The plant, which is of modular container construction with two scrubbing towers, almost completely recycles the carbon dioxide produced: up to 3,000 tonnes per year. It was manufactured at the Kanadevia Inova site in Zeven, northern Germany, where most of Kanadevia Inova’s gas upgrading and liquefaction teams work.

The CO₂ needed in numerous applications can thus be provided from renewable sources. This reduces the use of carbon dioxide of fossil origin and promotes decarbonisation.