Belgian cleantech firm ARK Capture Solutions leads €5.6M project to cut industrial CO2 pollution

ARK Capture Solutions leads a €5.6M Walloon project to test new CO₂ capture technology and help factories cut emissions at the chimney.

Wallonia, Belgium-based ARK Capture Solutions, a cleantech company, along with a consortium of industrial and scientific pioneers, has launched a €5.6M project called CO₂ DISRUPT.

“This project demonstrates that Wallonia can be at the cutting edge of innovation in the field of industrial decarbonisation while creating local value.”, says Aurélien Vantomme, R&D Director at ARK Capture Solutions.

The initiative is aimed at developing a new, economically viable carbon-capture technology for low-concentration flue gases.

Co-labelled by the Greenwin and MecaTech clusters and supported by the Walloon government, the initiative marks a major step in accelerating industrial decarbonisation across the region.

As a part of the project, a mobile pilot unit, capable of capturing between 1 and 2 tonnes of CO2 per day, will be developed by ARK Capture Solutions and tested on three major Walloon industrial sites —

Aperam Châtelet, ArcelorMittal Industeel Belgium and Cinergie Fleurus.

The consortium also includes two leading scientific partners, UMONS and Certech.

What problem does CO2 DISRUPT aim to solve?

The main cause of global warming is CO2 emissions from human activities.

Over 50 per cent of these emissions come from flue gases with CO2 levels between 4 per cent and 15 per cent.

Although companies are working on energy efficiency and exploring alternatives like electrification, green hydrogen, and biomass, they agree that cutting CO2 emissions significantly in the short to medium term requires capturing CO2 and either storing or using it.

Unfortunately, there is currently no cost-effective technology available for capturing CO2 from flue gases in this concentration range. The main sectors responsible for these emissions include energy, steel, glass, and petrochemicals.

The action

The CO2 DISRUPT project was created to speed up the development of effective CO2 capture solutions.

Its main goal is to create a CO2 capture technology that produces low-carbon steel coils and plates, decarbonised electricity, and food-grade biogenic CO2, while also establishing the necessary production processes.

The project will also offer decarbonisation consulting services and gas analysis.

While Certech manage all analytical work, UMONS will provide expertise in gas separation and purification techniques, as well as modelling complex processes.

For Cinergie, which is important in the biogas sector in Wallonia, capturing leftover CO2 is a smart way to boost the efficiency of the biomethanisation process and increase the value of products.

For Aperam and Industeel, the project presents an opportunity to stand out and keep jobs. ARK Capture Solutions aims to become a leader in CO2 capture technology.

In addition to helping reduce emissions in Wallonia, the CO2 DISRUPT project supports the growth of local expertise.

This project is expected to create and sustain skilled jobs in the region while promoting a quicker transition to a low-carbon economy, making Wallonia a recognised hub for carbon capture technology.