Pyrum Innovations signs MOU to advance pyrolysis technology

DILLINGEN, Germany—Waste tire pyrolysis company Pyrum Innovations A.G. has signed a memorandum of understanding with German tank terminals operator Unitank for the scaling up of its tire recycling technology.

As part of the deal, the two companies aim to build up to 10 end-of-life tire pyrolysis facilities by 2030 across the European Union region.

Each of the planned units is to be equipped with at least three pyrolysis reactors and will have a recycling capacity of around 20,000 metric tons per year (20 ktpa) of ELT.

The first plant will be constructed in Germany, said the Pyrum in a Sept. 19 statement, noting that the exact location of the facility will be announced by the end of the year.

The final investment decision for the first plant is to be made in 2023, with commercial operation of the unit set for 24 months later—potentially end of 2025.

"By cooperating with Unitank, we take another important step towards the commercial rollout of our unique pyrolysis technology," Pyrum CEO Pascal Klein said.

For Unitank, the cooperation will be a milestone towards expanding its business model to management and operations of circular and CO2 neutral energy infrastructure.

"We believe that the technology Pyrum has developed fits best to this objective," Unitank CEO Jan Vogel said.

Based in Dillingen, Germany, Pyrum has been operating a waste tire recycling plant since May 2020. There it processes up to 10 ktpa of ELT to produce pyrolysis oil and recovered carbon black (rCB).

The company is currently expanding the site to add two further production lines.

According to the recycler, construction work is progressing well at the site despite "the generally tight supply situation."

Commissioning of the new tire shredding plant is scheduled for the end of October 2022 and the initial commissioning work on the entire plant is scheduled to start by the end of the current year.

In addition, in July, Pyrum formed a joint venture with the companies MCapital G.m.b.H., Textor G.m.b.H. and Auer Holding G.m.b.H. for the construction and operation of a further 20 ktpa pyrolysis plant in Straubing, Bavaria.

According to Pyrum, the partners have already secured a property and signed a so-called pre-engineering contract, which provides for the preparation of the relevant approval documents.