Valorsul starts first carbon capture project in Portugal

In February, Valorsul, an EGF concessionaire responsible for urban waste management in greater Lisbon and the West Region in Portugal, began a pilot project to capture CO₂ at the Waste-to-Energy (WtE) Plant in São João da Talha. The aim is to test state-of-the-art technologies in a real environment and contribute to a significant reduction in the company's carbon footprint.

Using innovative technology developed by Hovyu, a leading specialist in safe and economical decarbonisation processes and technologies, Valorsul is evaluating the performance and scalability of the CO₂ capture system under real conditions.

Using Hyperion technology (with TRL 5 - Technology Readiness Level), a 100% electrified process has been developed that captures CO₂ from industrial gases using a highly selective solvent, guaranteeing safe and efficient operation. In this way, it will be possible to test the stability of the solvent under real operating conditions and optimise the performance of the entire process at the Waste-to-Energy Plant, with an expected 20% reduction in the costs of capturing CO₂ from industrial gases.

For Marta Neves, EGF Board Member and Chairperson of Valorsul's Executive Committee, "carbon capture in WtE and in the activity carried out in the waste sector can play a very important role in the national strategy towards carbon neutrality, with a significant impact on the national strategy for environmental protection and energy efficiency. This project and the application of this technology is an example of innovation and reinforces Valorsul's commitment to developing the most sustainable solutions in favour of the community and the country."

Currently, captured CO₂ can be reused through geological storage or through chemical processes that enable the production of synthetic fuels, plastics, construction materials such as carbonated concrete and even in the food industry, for example in the carbonation of drinks. Another promising application is the conversion of CO₂ into useful chemical products, such as methanol or polymers, using green hydrogen.