Saipem completes the final testing phase of its enzyme-based CO2 capture technology under the EU-backed ACCSESS project at Heidelberg Materials.
Saipem has reached a major milestone in advancing carbon capture innovation with the successful launch of the fourth and final testing phase of its CO2 capture pilot plant, part of the European ACCSESS project. This initiative, which features Saipem’s proprietary CO2 Solutions technology, marks a significant step toward validating its effectiveness in real industrial conditions. The ACCSESS project is coordinated by SINTEF Energy Research and co-funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme, bringing together multiple industrial and research partners to accelerate carbon capture deployment across Europe.
This achievement highlights the strong performance of Saipem’s enzyme-based solvent technology, specifically designed for hard-to-abate sectors such as cement, steel, and waste-to-energy. The company’s innovation focuses on providing an efficient, reliable, and scalable solution to capture CO2 emissions, reinforcing its strategic position in global decarbonisation efforts and the broader energy transition landscape.
At the core of Saipem’s contribution lies the Bluenzyme™ system, a modular and compact CO2 capture solution derived from the CO2 Solutions technology. The Bluenzyme™ design offers a “plug-and-play” approach that simplifies integration across various industrial facilities, reducing both operational complexity and installation time. This flexibility enables faster adoption of carbon capture technologies by industries aiming to achieve net-zero targets.
The ongoing pilot project is being conducted at Heidelberg Materials’ cement plant in Górazdze, Poland, one of Europe’s largest cement manufacturing sites. The pilot unit, powered by Saipem’s proprietary technology, captures carbon dioxide directly from the plant’s flue gases. It has been designed to operate under two configurations: a traditional absorber column and an advanced Rotating Packed Bed (RPB) absorber. The RPB system enhances CO2 capture efficiency while minimizing spatial requirements, representing an important technological advancement in carbon capture design. Operating at full capacity, the pilot plant has achieved its target of capturing 2 tonnes of CO2 per day, validating both absorber configurations under realistic industrial conditions.
This final testing phase follows earlier experimental campaigns conducted at several industrial locations across Europe, including the Celsio Waste-to-Energy plant and the Mongstad Technology Center in Norway, as well as the Stora Enso paper mill in Sweden. Each stage has provided valuable insights into the scalability and robustness of the CO2 Solutions technology.
By successfully completing this last experimental phase, Saipem has demonstrated the industrial readiness of its enzyme-based CO2 capture technology, reaffirming its commitment to providing practical, efficient, and sustainable solutions for carbon reduction in key industries across Europe and beyond.
