eCapt-Rhône carbon capture project
The eCapt-Rhône project uses renewable hydrogen production and CO2 captured from Holcim’s cement plant in Le Teil to generate e-methanol. It is set to become the first large-scale plant in France to produce 138 kilotons (kt) of e-methanol per year. The project aims to replace about 20% of current French methanol consumption by providing locally produced e-methanol to industrial firms, thereby reducing CO2 emissions by 70%.
The plant’s goal is to capture 100% of CO2 emitted – around 200,000 tons – annually, by 2028. In 2023, it received a grant from the EU Innovation Fund.
ecapt-rhône at a glance
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| Operational by 2028 | Image
| End-of-pipe cryogenic carbon capture | |
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| 200,000 tons CO2 captured annually | Image
| EU Innovation Grant funding | |
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| Cutting-edge project using captured carbon to produce high quality e-methanol | Image
| Conversion |
The technology behind the project
The eCapt-Rhône project is driven by three technological processes:
- Carbon capture: a fully electric and chemical-free solution will be used. This involves both boosting oxygen levels in the kiln line and using end-of-pipe cryogenic carbon capture technology.
- Hydrogen production: a 170 MW electrolyser powered by green energy will produce 27 kt/y of green hydrogen.
- E-methanol production: a first-of-its-kind high capacity reactor will be able to provide 138 kt/y of methanol.
The capture brick will be located at Le Teil cement plant while the hydrogen and e-methanol production infrastructure will be installed at the Osiris chemical platform, located just 100 kilometers from the plant. Transportation will be managed by rail.
“The eCapt-Rhône project has an important role to play in the industry, both by making the large-scale capture of CO2 in a cement plant a reality and by producing e-methanol directly amidst industrial consumers.”
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