Agriculture, shipping, aviation, road freight and certain industrial processes are among the sectors where reducing CO₂ emissions is particularly difficult. Pyrolysis is a key technology for cutting greenhouse gas emissions in Danish agriculture, while also offering export opportunities and the potential to create new jobs in rural areas.

Solution

The PytoCCUS project develops and demonstrates an integrated solution in which pyrolysis is combined with CO₂ capture and liquefaction at an existing biogas plant in Vrå. The project is based on mature core competencies within a strong consortium and brings together pyrolysis technology, CO₂ capture, energy‑efficient heat integration and the use of biochar in a single, integrated system.

Through the project, technologies are developed and tested that enable the capture of CO₂ from biogas upgrading and, in the longer term, from the flue gases of the pyrolysis process. At the same time, the project investigates how biochar from pyrolysis can be actively used within the biogas plant, for example to remove sulphur compounds, reduce odour emissions and improve methane production.

Advanced life cycle assessments document the overall climate impact and support decision‑making related to future upscaling and commercialisation. The project is modularised and designed for replication and deployment at other biogas plants in Denmark and internationally.

Expected Impact

The project is expected to demonstrate an energy‑efficient and cost‑competitive CCUS solution that significantly reduces CO₂ emissions from biogas plants. At the same time, value creation from biomass is strengthened through improved carbon utilisation and the development of new commercial applications for biochar.

Specifically, PytoCCUS contributes to:

• maturing key components from TRL 2–6 to TRL 7

• establishing new CCUS value chains

• strengthening regional competences and employment

Alongside the PytoN project are the PytoN and PytoX projects. Learn more about pyrolysis here.