Fives and Waga Energy have signed a collaboration agreement to advance the deployment of WAGABOX, which transforms landfill gas into biomethane – a renewable alternative to fossil natural gas.
Industrial energy company Fives supplies heat exchangers that form a critical component of the cryogenic distillation module within WAGABOX units. According to Fives, these heat exchangers are tailored to meet specific project requirements and ensure consistent, competitive biomethane production.
The collaboration also aims to standardise WAGABOX equipment, enhancing reliability and scalability.
The renewable biomethane they produce serves as a sustainable energy source for businesses and households, contributing to global efforts to combat climate change.
Vincent Pourailly, President of Fives’ Energy Cryogenics Business Line, highlighted the collaborative effort’s climate-focused impact, saying, “To meet the challenges posed by climate change, we need to bring together the world’s best expertise.”
“Fives, a technological leader in cryogenics for over 65 years, and Waga Energy, a specialist in the upgrade of renewable natural gas from landfill waste, are perfect examples of this synergy. We are delighted to be supporting them in this project, which will accelerate the energy transition.”
Fives’ WAGABOX technology. ©Waga Energy
WAGABOX technology transforms landfill gas into biomethane by integrating two advanced processes: membrane filtration and cryogenic distillation. Initially, raw landfill gas is extracted and purified through membranes to remove impurities like carbon dioxide and oxygen.
The gas then undergoes cryogenic distillation, where methane is separated and concentrated into high-purity biomethane. This biomethane is compressed and injected directly into natural gas grids or used as a renewable fuel.
Nicolas Paget, co-founder and Deputy CEO of Waga Energy, added, “Since 2015, the Fives teams have been supporting us in the deployment of our WAGABOX renewable natural gas production units. We are proud to bring this partnership to fruition, bringing together two French companies with an international outlook and a focus on climate issues.”
Biomethane supports decarbonisation across industries such as transport, agriculture, and energy-intensive sectors, replacing fossil fuels in applications like industrial processes, grid injection, and heavy-duty transport, including buses and trucks.
Europe’s biomethane sector has experienced substantial growth, with production capacity increasing by 34% between 2022 and 2023. The European Union’s REPowerEU plan targets 35 billion cubic metres (bcm) of biomethane production by 2030, necessitating an annual growth rate of approximately 30%.
As of July 2024, the EU’s installed biomethane capacity reached 5.2 bcm, marking a 37% increase from the previous year.
