Air Liquide takes part in World Environment Day

World Environment Day, celebrated every year on June 5 in over 100 countries, is focusing this year on climate change and its impact on the environment. Air Liquide is taking part in this day.

By developing innovative and ecological solutions to limit industrial emissions, provide cleaner energies and preserve natural resources, Air Liquide helps preserve the environment.

Reducing CO2 emissions, a greenhouse gas

CO2 is one of the main greenhouse gases. Its percentage in the air has significantly increased over the last century. Air Liquide works on limiting emissions to reduce the impact of CO2 on climate change.

Coal-fired power plants produce electricity while emitting large quantities of CO2 into the atmosphere. Oxycombustion technologies (combustion using oxygen) that Air Liquide has developed help efficiently concentrate CO2, then durably store it in the subsoil.

The Group has developed second-generation biofuels, produced from the inedible part of plants. Compared to fossil fuels, these biofuels reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 90%.

Air Liquide actively takes part in developments concerning hydrogen, as a new energy carrier. A vehicle equipped with a fuel cell supplied with hydrogen only emits water and can now divide CO2 emissions in half compared to fossil fuels. Hydrogen, produced in a green way, can be used to run vehicles without any greenhouse gas emissions.

Reducing emissions that are harmful to humans and the environment

The use of fuels containing sulfur generates sulfur oxides, which cause respiratory problems, smog and acid rain. Hydrogen is used to remove sulfur from fuels that subsequently become more respectful of the environment.

Supporting research

Through its Air Liquide Foundation, the Group supports scientific research on the preservation of the environment and more specifically the preservation of our planet’s atmosphere.

Key Figures

• 33%: Percentage of revenue from activities that help preserve life and the environment
• Over 60%: Proportion of the R&D budget devoted to environmental issues
• 4 million tons: Annual CO2 emissions from a coal-fired power plant of average size (500 MW/year) (in France, a car emits on average 1.8 t/year).
• 800,000 tons: Quantity of sulfur oxide that is not emitted into the atmosphere thanks to the hydrogen Air Liquide supplies to refineries throughout the world. This is equal to twice the total emissions of a country like France (460,000 tons a year).