30 may 2025

A collaboration between agriculture and industry for the production of renewable energy and biogenic CO₂, which will be used to produce low-carbon Soda Ash and Sodium Bicarbonate at the Solvay plant in Rosignano (Tuscany).

Today, at the Museum of the Mines of Montecatini Val di Cecina, in the presence of the President of the Region Eugenio Giani, Mayor Francesco Auriemma, and other national, regional, and local authorities, Marchesi Ginori Lisci, the SIAD Group, and Solvay officially announced the construction of a new biomethane and bio-CO₂ production plant. This initiative will promote good circular economy practices in the region and further decarbonize operations at the Rosignano facility.

The plant, located on the Marchesi Ginori Lisci Estate in Querceto (Montecatini Val di Cecina) and owned by the company, will produce 2 million m³ per year of Biomethane and 2,500 tons per year of Bio-CO₂. Solvay has committed to purchasing 24 GWh per year for the next 15 years, replacing part of the natural gas used to power its energy plants with biomethane and reducing CO₂ emissions from steam production. Starting in 2026, this renewable energy source will contribute to an approximate 8,000 tons/year reduction in CO₂ emissions the Rosignano site.

For over two centuries, the Ginori Lisci family, owners of the eponymous company, has set a benchmark for the region, combining tradition, quality, and environmental responsibility. The company has evolved over time, remaining true to its historical values and constantly investing in sustainable innovation.

"In a rapidly changing world, staying true to one's roots also means knowing how to look forward," says Luigi Malenchini, Managing Director. "Sustainability is not just an ethical choice but a positive commitment to future generations and to the community with which we have always had a strong bond."

"All this without ever losing sight of the quality that has always distinguished the brand, and the centrality of people, with company policies focused on employee well-being and the enhancement of local talent," concludes Lionardo Ginori Lisci, President of the company.

The project exemplifies a circular model where agricultural by-products are transformed into renewable biomethane and biogenic CO₂. The SIAD Group, a leader in biomethane and Bio-CO₂ technologies through Tecno Project Industriale, a Group company, will build and manage a plant for the recovery and liquefaction of CO₂ generated during biomethane production. This CO₂ will then be transported and supplied to Solvay, who will use it in its soda ash and sodium bicarbonate production processes at the Rosignano site. The biogenic CO₂ introduced into Solvay's production cycle will reduce the need for fossil-derived CO₂ and the overall carbon footprint of the Rosignano site.

Bernardo Sestini, President and CEO of the SIAD Group, explains: "We are convinced that innovation, always a characteristic of ours, is the basis for the development of environmental sustainability. In the biogenic CO₂ supply chain, the SIAD Group has developed solutions by integrating engineering know-how with industrial gases, allowing for the recovery of a waste product and transforming it into a resource for various industries (such as chemicals and agri-food). The recovery and use of carbon dioxide from short carbon cycle processes enable the development of an increasingly circular and sustainable economy."

This initiative follows the successful project launched in 2018 by Solvay and SIAD which involved building a CO₂ capture plant at the Rosignano site. This plant recovers and reuses 40,000 tons of CO₂ per year from industrial fumes in the production of soda ash and sodium bicarbonate. Both these projects contribute to improving Solvay's energy independence, reducing emissions, and strengthening the competitiveness and sustainability of the Rosignano industrial park.

"This project represents a tangible step in our journey to decarbonize our operations," declared Nicolas Dugenetay, Director of the Solvay Rosignano Plant. "By integrating renewable biomethane and biogenic CO₂ into our processes, we reduce our environmental impact. Our vision aims to ensure the sustainable development of the Region, demonstrating that industry, in synergy with local resources, can create new opportunities to overcome the challenges of the ecological transition."