Innovative Cométha project: phase 2, construction and operation of the industrial pilot, is in progress

On the way to zero waste! John Cockerill is involved in the innovative COMÉTHA project aiming at the optimum waste recycling and recovery of the mixture of sludge from wastewater treatment plants and the residual organic fraction of solid municipal waste (OFSMW). This joint partnership project between the two French operators SYCTOM and SIAAP, targets a maximized energy production, all while striving for a zero-landfill operation, with zero non-recovered waste.

To meet these major challenges, John Cockerill puts its R&D and technologies at the service of an innovative new process. Leading the consortium formed with our partner companies Sources (specialist in municipal water treatment in France), the UTC (University of Technology of Compiègne) and UniLaSalle Beauvais, John Cockerill is mobilizing the specialists of  its three Business Lines on this project. Namely, Proserpol, a specialist in wastewater treatment, Europe Environnement, a specialist in air and gas pollution control, and NESA for the thermal treatment of sludge.

Final phase will consist of the construction and commissioning of a large-scale industrial facility

After a first phase dedicated to the laboratory testing of the solutions, phase 2, currently in progress, is devoted to the construction and operation of two industrial pilots in real conditions by the two candidates selected at the end of phase 1. Phase 3, the final phase, will consist of the construction and commissioning of a large-scale industrial facility.

During the recent METHEOR conference in Forbach (France), our experts attended the presentation of this unique project. The opportunity was given to the two selected consortiums of phase 2 to present their innovative processes and the progress of the work to the public . The participants, including many experts in this field in France, were able to ask their questions related to the proposed solutions.

The strong and meaningful objectives of the solution being developed by John Cockerill are to optimize methanation and maximize both biogas production and the recovery of by-products, by extracting all the value contained in the digestate. This project, which is as much part of the ecological transition as the circular economy, testifies to John Cockerill’s strong commitment to developing solutions to the challenges of its time.