France Freezes Carbon in Its Tracks

Eiffage and Revcoo’s cryogenic system could reshape how Europe cuts industrial CO₂ emissions

31 Oct 2025

France is emerging as a testbed for low-emission industrial technology, as construction group Eiffage and start-up Revcoo trial a cryogenic carbon capture process that could reshape how manufacturers reduce emissions.

At a lime production site in northern France, the partners are piloting a system that cools exhaust gases to almost minus 200°C, using liquid nitrogen to condense carbon dioxide into a liquid form. Unlike solvent-based methods, the process requires no water and can be integrated into existing plants without disrupting operations.

The demonstrator currently captures about 1,000 tonnes of CO₂ a year, roughly 2 per cent of the site’s emissions, with the aim of scaling to tens of thousands of tonnes by 2030. The partners say the technology could offer a more flexible and less resource-intensive route for industries seeking to align with EU climate targets.

The initiative comes amid broader progress in Europe’s carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) sector. Norway’s Northern Lights project has begun injecting CO₂ beneath the North Sea, while Germany is advancing a multibillion-euro plan to accelerate industrial decarbonisation. Together, these projects signal the continent’s most coordinated push yet to curb heavy-industry emissions.

“The momentum has shifted from pilot projects to commercial-scale operations,” said Marie Lefèvre, an energy transition specialist. “Europe’s heavy industries are proving that innovation and competitiveness can go hand in hand.”

Challenges remain. Energy-intensive processes, uncertain carbon prices and limited underground storage capacity could slow expansion. Still, governments are increasing subsidies and private investors are showing renewed interest in scalable carbon capture solutions.

If the Eiffage and Revcoo project proves viable at scale, France could become a model for industrial sectors seeking to balance productivity with carbon recovery, marking a new phase in Europe’s transition toward net-zero manufacturing.