[Ryan]

I think a significant limiting factor at the moment is that, as an underutilized technology, implementing it carries a high production cost. Long-term offtakers are required to show the new revenue from the technology makes the increased CAPEX worthwhile.

I would love to hear from some of the other folks already leading the way with this: @sysadvance_joaquim @Ilir

[Trisha]

If there’s a buyer located close to the digester, such as a beverage company or greenhouse, biogenic CO₂ can become a valuable revenue stream. However, transporting CO₂ over long distances is expensive, so its use is typically limited to nearby applications. Additionally, you would have to make sure that you have enough feedstock to match the volume of CO₂ you want to use.

There has been interest in using biogenic CO₂ for carbonated beverages, but this can raise concerns. Even if the gas is purified to food-grade standards, some consumers or companies may still have reservations about using CO₂ derived from organic waste like manure due to an “ick factor”. These perceptions can influence market acceptance, even when the product is technically safe and clean.

[Natalia Bourenane]

Trisha, very good point about “ick factor”. I keep thinking that sometimes, the less you know the better you sleep :-). Do you think education may help or it will always be a no-no for biogenc CO2 entering the food industry?

[Nikolas]

The driving factor for the capturing and selling of CO2 in biogas plants is the demand. Until 3-4 years ago, there was no real demand for biogenic CO2. Around the COVID era and after, the CO2 production got disrupted and markets started looking elsewhere. Capturing and producing liquified CO2 from a membrane upgrading system is easy and the equipment can be installed at the same time or later on.

The numbers might seem small at the moment but interest is growing and many new projects are considering CO2 as a revenue source. It would actually turn otherwise non economically feasible projects into successful ones.

The demand is there, from sequestration to greenhouses, food and beverage. All we need is time, for the word to get out to existing upgrading plants and for developers / engineers to start including CO2 capture at the conception point of the project, in order to secure funding for the CapEx.

[Natalia Bourenane]

Thanx for the insight Nikolas, what are your thoughts on possibility to use CO2 in food industry? what do you think about “Ick factor” as mentioned by @azuraassociates_trisha ?

[Nikolas]

It is definitely there, as food or beverage companies would need to overcome the public pushback on the idea that your drink was made with CO2 gas coming from i.e. a WWTP plant operation. The public would have to be comfortable with this concept before more companies start using bio-CO2 in their operations.

[Hatem]

I see opportunity in CO2 from AD :

Capturing CO₂ from biogas and using it to grow algae.

This offers a powerful, climate-friendly synergy: algae thrive on CO₂, and biogas upgrading produces a steady stream of biogenic CO₂ that would otherwise be wasted. This creates a circular system where CO₂ and nutrient-rich digestate from anaerobic digestion fuel algae growth, which can in turn produce high-value products like biofuels, bioplastics, or animal feed. Despite the scientific potential, practical barriers such as gas purification needs, mismatched CO₂ supply and light availability, land and water requirements, and immature markets have slowed adoption. However, with advances in algal biotechnology, modular reactor systems, and stronger policy support for CO₂ reuse and nutrient recycling, integrating algae cultivation with RNG plants could become a game-changer for both carbon capture and the bioeconomy.

[Natalia Bourenane]

Thanx for your comment Hatem. Seems like an interesting concemp but pretty limiting for now

[Bruce]

As CO2 shortages are acute in some markets, gas companies are now willing to sign up for long term purchases of the CO2 plant output, especially from manure and food waste sources. However, RNG plants usually have small volumes which makes the cost of production high so the capital can only be justified where pricing is high due to a lack of conventional sources. I would not suggest selling to the end users as they will need redundant supply sources.

[Natalia Bourenane]

Bruce, thanx for the comment! very interesting. Small amounts available now are most probably because the RNG plants do not really capture it? Do you think it will pick up?

[Nikan]

That is another great question…I agree with all the answers already given in this thread. I also have to add the support from market regulators does not currently exist for CCS. For a RNG plant that creates CFR credits through compliance category 2, capturing the CO2 at the downstream currently does not create any additional credits… this provides less incentive for projects to invest and accept the risk of adapting CCS.