Areva acquires biocoal technology from Thermya

Renewbale energies group Areva has acquired biocoal technology from French torrefaction technology company Thermya.

Areva will add the technology to its Bioenergy subsidiary and first use it in new Thermya plants in France and Spain before looking to build other facilities in the future. The biocoal technology helps produce plant fuel from biomass which can replace fossil coal used in the production of thermal energy and electricity.

‘This acquisition strengthens our position in the field of renewable energies, and establishes us on the global bio-coal market, which has considerable potential,’ says Areva president Luc Oursel.

‘The acquisition of this torrefaction technology, together with our subsidiary’s 35 years of experience, means we are now well-placed to capture a significant share of the bio-coal market.’