Suez and Pyrum in deal to build pyrolysis plant for tyres

Over the coming 12 months, the agreement will see Suez identify a location for the first plant and “initiate the approval process with support from Pyrum”. The planned plant will comprise three pyrolysis reactors with a recycling capacity of around 20,000 tonnes of end-of-life tyres per year.

Pascal Klein, chief executive of Pyrum Innovations AG, said: “The European rollout of our unique technology continues to progress. In Suez, we were able to partner with one of the leading companies in the field of sustainable solutions and innovative technologies for the British circular economy.

“Working together, Pyrum and Suez will benefit from each other’s expertise. The first site will now be identified as soon as possible. We will then work together to complete the approval process with the local authorities.”

Technology

According to Suez, Pryum’s reactor technology allows for the recovery of high-quality raw materials from tyres and save up to 72% of co2 emissions when compared to current recycling methods.

Currently, out of the 50 million tyres disposed of in the UK, Suez said approximately 13.4 million are utilised as an alternative fuel, while the remaining tyres undergo shredding and grinding to create a new material known as crumb. This crumb material finds applications in sports pitches or playgrounds, while the rest of the tyres are either sent for energy recovery or end up in landfill sites.

During the pyrolysis process of Pyrum’s technology, Suez’s statement explained that tyres are separated into their component raw materials – oil, carbon black, and pyrolysis gas. The carbon black is re-used in the manufacturing of new tyres, the oil is taken by BASF and “recycled into new products” and the Pyrolysis gas is used to power the plant.

‘Exciting’

John Scanlon, chief executive of Suez UK, said: “This agreement marks an exciting milestone for Suez as leaders in the development of a more circular, resource efficient UK economy. With our expertise in delivering new infrastructure, Suez are the natural choice to pioneer this innovative technology in the UK, which will see a vast improvement in the recycling of end-of-life tyres, and a significant reduction in CO2 emissions compared with current tyre recycling technologies.

“We look forward to working together with Pyrum over the coming year to develop plans for the first UK plant.”