immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: CO2-Speicherung

  • Switzerland signs agreement with Denmark on CO2 storage

    Switzerland signs agreement with Denmark on CO2 storage

    Switzerland signed two agreements with Denmark on 3 September that will enable the export and permanent storage of Swiss CO2 in Denmark. Future cooperation in the area of negative emissions technology (NET) and carbon capture and storage (CCS) is also planned, according to a press release. The Federal Council had already approved the two agreements on 27 August 2025.

    The partnership with Denmark joins the existing partnership with Norway, which was signed on 17 June 2025 and also enables CO2 storage and bilateral emissions trading. “CO2 storage will also be important for Switzerland on the way to the net-zero target,” said Federal Councillor Albert Rösti in the press release on the agreement with Norway. “This technology complements our existing instruments for decarbonisation.”

    The agreements with Denmark and Norway were signed against the backdrop of the Climate and Innovation Act (CIE), which commits Switzerland to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. Net zero is to be achieved primarily by reducing emissions, while emissions that are difficult to avoid, such as those from the cement industry or agriculture, must be offset by CCS or NET technologies. The federal government has been promoting the use of such technologies since 1 January 2025 as part of the CIG.

  • New construction technology stores CO2 in buildings

    New construction technology stores CO2 in buildings

    Holcim and ELEMENTAL are presenting a new method for binding carbon in buildings at the Architecture Biennale in Venice, according to a press release. This new biochar technology will be presented there from 10 May to 23 November 2025 as part of the Time Space Existence exhibition. It is being organised by the European Cultural Centre.

    On display will be full-size, minimalist prefabricated parts of a prototype for so-called incremental housing construction. The structures on display were designed by ELEMENTAL and are based on two decades of research. They consist of prefabricated concrete frames with sanitary infrastructure that can be used to build homes for low-income people in economically disadvantaged areas.

    These prefabricated elements were built by Holcim. They consist of 100 per cent recycled aggregates and biochar. Biochar binds CO2 permanently, which would otherwise be released by organic materials at the end of their life cycle. As Holcim calculates, one kilogramme of biochar prevents the release of up to three kilogrammes of CO2. This biochar is added to Holcim’s low-CO2 cement, mortar and concrete mixes. This further reduces their CO2 footprint without compromising their performance, as Holcim emphasises.

    “Holcim’s new decarbonisation technology allows us to cope with the scale and speed of demand fuelled by the housing crisis without harming the environment,” ELEMENTAL founder Alejandro Aravena is quoted as saying. Holcim CEO Miljan Gutovic adds: “Through our partnership with Alejandro Aravena and the ELEMENTAL team, we have shown how Holcim’s new carbon sink technology can shape the future of construction.”

  • New plant for the mineralisation of CO2 in Alsace

    New plant for the mineralisation of CO2 in Alsace

    Neustark and Fehr are joining forces for the permanent storage of CO2 in recycled concrete. The two partners have opened the first commercial CO2 storage facility in Alsace, Neustark writes in a press release. Bern-based ClimateTech has developed a technology with which CO2 captured from biogas plants can be stored in demolition concrete. At Fehr in Bischwiller, the aim is to bind 1200 tonnes of CO2 every year.

    The family-run company Fehr operates ten concrete plants and four production facilities for precast concrete elements. “Fehr is one of the pioneers of sustainable building materials in France,” said Valentin Gutknecht, co-founder and co-CEO of Neustark, in the press release. “Through our strategic partnership, we can implement our innovative and ready-to-use technology and thus offer a local alternative to storing CO2 underground or in the sea.”

    Fehr receives the CO2 from a nearby plant for the production of biomethane. At the production facility in Bischwiller, it is added to the demolition concrete, where it mineralises within hours thanks to Neustark’s technology. Another part of the CO2 is fed into the mixed water produced during concrete production, where it reacts with the mineral substances in the mixed water and forms stable salts (carbonates) thanks to Neustark’s technology. In addition to the permanent storage of CO2, this also reduces the costs for the disposal of the mixed water, writes Neustark.

  • Concrete as CO₂ storage

    Concrete as CO₂ storage

    Reducing greenhouse gas emissions alone is not enough to slow down climate change. It is just as important to actively remove CO₂ that has already been emitted from the atmosphere. Empa researchers have calculated that up to ten billion tonnes of carbon could be sequestered annually through targeted CO₂ storage in concrete. In the long term, this process could help to reduce the CO₂ level in the atmosphere to the target value of 350 ppm.

    The concept is based on the conversion of CO₂ into solid carbon compounds that are used as concrete aggregates. In addition to concrete, other building materials such as asphalt or plastics could also contribute to storage. The challenge lies in incorporating large quantities of carbon efficiently and quickly into these materials without impairing their properties.

    Silicon carbide as a key technology
    One promising approach is the production of silicon carbide as a concrete aggregate. This compound can bind carbon almost permanently and at the same time improves the mechanical properties of the concrete. However, the production of silicon carbide is very energy-intensive, which is why the full utilisation of this technology is only realistic after the energy transition.

    Without the use of silicon carbide, it would take more than 200 years to remove the excess CO₂ from the atmosphere. However, a combination of porous carbon and silicon carbide could significantly accelerate this process.

    New paths for a CO₂-binding economy
    The “Mining the Atmosphere” research initiative aims not only to reduce CO₂, but also to utilise it as a valuable raw material. In addition to storage in building materials, carbon can also be used for the production of polymers, carbon fibres or graphene.

    However, technological advances as well as economic and regulatory incentives are required for successful implementation. The researchers emphasise that a combination of CO₂ reduction and active removal is necessary to mitigate climate change in the long term.

    Using concrete as a carbon sink could make a decisive contribution to stabilising the climate. A sustainable solution for the future of the construction industry.

  • New partnership promotes hydrogen from wood waste

    New partnership promotes hydrogen from wood waste

    H2 Bois has a new minority shareholder. According to a press release, the Vaud-based energy supplier Romande Energie will acquire a 33.7 per cent stake in January 2025. Groupe Corbat, based in Vendlincourt JU and active in the timber industry, will then hold 50.3 per cent and the consulting firm Planair Vision SA, based in La Sagne NE, 16 per cent of the company they founded in 2021.

    H2 Bois plans to build a plant to produce hydrogen from wood waste in 2025 and put it into operation in 2026. The production process also produces biochar, which can permanently store some of the CO2 contained in the wood. When fully operational in 2030, the plant will be able to produce a total of 450 tonnes of clean hydrogen from 14,000 tonnes of wood and wood waste and store 2,500 tonnes of CO2 per year. H2 Bois utilises technology from the French company Haffner Energy.

    The hydrogen is transported to an industrial zone in the village via a 1.5 kilometre long gas pipeline. There it is used by industrial companies and for mobility via a petrol station. The biochar is used in agriculture.

    For Romande Energie, the investment is a step towards a decarbonised western Switzerland. “This investment allows us to participate in a bold project that is a pioneer in Switzerland in the use of an innovative negative emissions technology,” said Jérémie Brillet, responsible for hydrogen at Romande Energie, in the press release.

    Benjamin Corbat, CEO of Groupe Corbat, welcomes Romande Energie’s involvement. “We are looking forward to the start of production, but also to breaking new ground in the local use of wood.”

  • New approaches for CO2 credits in the construction industry

    New approaches for CO2 credits in the construction industry

    conspark is part of Switzerland’s first open innovation program on CO2 storage called Carbon Removal Booster. The Zurich-based company, which promotes the circular economy in the construction industry, is thus receiving project-related support from Innosuisse. Under the program, twelve projects will each receive 24,000 Swiss francs a year in funding, methodological support and contacts.

    The project submitted by conspark is entitled “Clarifying carbon credit ownership and methodology in construction”. According to a company press release, the aim of the project is to develop guidelines to clarify the eligibility of CO2 credits in the construction industry. The questions “Who along the value chain can claim CO2 sinks?” and “How are the sink benefits recorded?” are to be answered.

    The background to this is the goal of sustainable construction to turn buildings from CO2 emitters into CO2 sinks. This is possible if carbon is permanently stored in the building structure, building materials are recycled and buildings are operated in a CO2-neutral manner.

    The focus of the conspark project is on mineralization and biochar in building products. The project is reportedly being implemented with implementation partners. These are Klark – the climate clay from Logbau, neustark, zirkulit, First Climate Switzerland and Carbonfuture.

    “The project relies on the necessary cooperation of all relevant stakeholders in the construction industry,” says conspark Managing Director Florian Robineck. “The entire value chain is represented through our strong implementation partners.”

  • Boost My Startup Challenge 2024

    Boost My Startup Challenge 2024

    The Bern-based ClimateTech company Neustark has won this year’s Boost My Startup Challenge. According to a press release, Neustark came out on top against five other competitors in the competition organized by the consultancy firm WSP from Lucerne and the major Zurich bank UBS. The Bern-based company, a spin-off of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich(ETH), was recognized by the judges for its CO2 mineralization technology. According to the company, the process converts carbon dioxide into limestone, which is bound to the pores and surface of concrete granulate. The granulate carbonated in this way can then be used in road construction or for the production of recycled concrete. As Neustark forecasts, the company wants to store a total of 1 million tons of carbon dioxide from the air by 2030.

    The challenge now won gives the Bern-based company access to WSP’s teams, offices and customer network as well as support from UBS Growth Advisory. In addition, the company can benefit from funding, either from UBS Growth Advisory or from WSP.

  • Disused borehole in Trüllikon: potential for CO2 storage is being examined

    Disused borehole in Trüllikon: potential for CO2 storage is being examined

    The disused Trüllikon-1 deep borehole is being transferred from Nagra to swisstopo, according to a statement from the Swiss Federal Office of Energy(SFOE). The Federal Office of Topography intends to investigate the potential and challenges of injecting CO2 underground.

    The borehole was drilled by Nagra as part of the search for a suitable repository for radioactive waste. According to a study carried out by swisstopo in 2023 together with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich and the University of Bern, it is in very good condition and suitable for safely carrying out a CO2 injection test.

    The feed-in test could last from 2025 to 2030 at the latest as part of a pilot project. According to the SFOE, however, it is still unclear whether the test will be carried out. However, swisstopo is already in contact with the municipal council of Trüllikon and the landowner, according to the press release. Furthermore, the potential pilot project does not represent a preliminary decision as to whether CO2 should be stored underground in Switzerland at all.

  • Sustainable CO2 storage in the concrete plant

    Sustainable CO2 storage in the concrete plant

    The gravel and concrete plant of Ch. Gerster AG is the first company in Liechtenstein to offer the Neustark process for storing CO2. The CO2 is mineralised on site in Gerster’s concrete granulate called granulite, which in turn is obtained from demolition concrete. This granulate is also a component of Gerster’s Rainulit recycled concrete. “We are thus presenting a solution for reducing CO2 emissions in the construction industry,” says a statement from Gerster.

    In the plant developed by the Bern-based ClimateTech company Neustark, gaseous CO2 of biological origin reacts with lime produced during cement production. This mineralisation process produces limestone again. As the CO2 would only be released again at a temperature of over 700 degrees, it remains permanently bound in the limestone and is therefore permanently removed from the air. According to Neustark’s own press release, the Ch. Gerster AG plant can permanently store 100 tonnes of CO2 per year.

    Neustark now has 19 separation and storage plants, transforming the world’s largest waste stream – demolition concrete – and other mineral waste materials into carbon sinks. According to its own figures, the spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich(ETH) has so far permanently removed 1719 tonnes of CO2 from the air. Its goal is to reach 1 million tonnes by 2030.

  • Timber Finance informs about CO2 methodology in timber construction

    Timber Finance informs about CO2 methodology in timber construction

    Timber Finance has been working since 2022 to establish timber construction on the market for CO2 storage certificates. The company recently received an ICROA CO2 certificate standard for its methodology developed for this purpose, Timber Finance announced in a press release. The competence centre for modern timber investments expects its CO2 storage technology to be finally recognised in the course of the year.

    For the pilot phase of the methodology, Timber Finance is inviting interested parties from the property development, architecture, engineering, project development and real estate sectors as well as general and total contractors to register their planned or ongoing timber buildings as pilot projects for CO2 certification. On 8 February, the Competence Centre will also be hosting an online seminar on the topic. According to the event announcement, the approach of generating financing contributions for timber construction projects via CO2 storage certificates will be explained in detail.

  • Berner Kantonalbank cooperates with Neustark

    Berner Kantonalbank cooperates with Neustark

    Berner Kantonalbank(BEKB) is promoting CO2 storage facilities in the Bern-Solothurn region. To this end, it has agreed a cooperation with the Bernese start-up Neustark, according to a press release. The aim is to support its innovative technology for the permanent storage of CO2 in demolition concrete. The aim is to remove around 1,000 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere in the BEKB economic area over the next ten years.

    Neustark, a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich founded in 2019, is the first company in the world to put carbon removal through mineralisation in demolition concrete into commercial practice and set up a network of storage facilities, according to the press release. In the summer of 2023, the largest plant to date in the BEKB economic area was put into operation in Biberist, Solothurn. Further facilities in the region are being planned. “Through our cooperation, we are not only promoting innovative technologies to achieve climate targets, we are also contributing to the circular economy in the region and making it possible to permanently remove CO2 emissions in our own economic area,” BEKB CEO Armin Brun is quoted as saying.

    In 2022, BEKB’s operational CO2 emissions amounted to 1153 tonnes. These are to be further reduced through various measures. Through this cooperation with Neustark, the bank will permanently remove 100 tonnes of CO2 from its operational emissions in its own economic area every year from 2024. According to the information provided, these are the estimated residual emissions that are unavoidable for BEKB and cannot be reduced in the future.

  • Pilot project measures potential of CO2 in recycled concrete

    Pilot project measures potential of CO2 in recycled concrete

    A pilot project led by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich(ETH) in collaboration with experts from the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (Empa), the ETH Domain’s Water Research Institute(Eawag), the Paul Scherrer Institute(PSI) and the companies Kästli Bau from Rubigen BE and neustark from Bern, as well as 18 other partners, has shown that concrete demolition granulate fumigated with CO2 can save around 15 per cent of the greenhouse gas produced during its manufacture.

    A total of 10 percent of this is achieved by the novel building materials enriched with carbonated concrete granulates. Another 5 to 7 percent can be achieved because the concrete granulate enriched with CO2 makes the cement compounds in recycled concrete stronger than normal concrete. This is the result of complex measurements carried out by Andreas Leemann of Empa’s Concrete & Asphalt Department, among others: “A reactive phase, in other words, which is newly formed in the granulate and produces a higher strength in the recycled concrete. That surprised us,” he is quoted as saying in a media release.

    Further potential was also shown by the CO2 treatment of the so-called recycling water from water, cement and sand, which is produced during the cleaning of concrete vehicles and mixing plants. One kilogram of it could bind the considerable amount of 120 grams of CO2 gas. Life cycle analyses have summed up that the carbonated material can reduce the greenhouse effect by about 13 per cent net compared to concrete with conventional cement and without recycled material. For concrete with recycled material, the effect is still 9 percent.

    The project leaders will present the research results to the public at the so-called closing event. It will take place on 6 December at ETH’s Audi Max.