Invest-NL invests in SCW Systems for further upscaling

In the past ten years, SCW has developed an innovative supercritical water gasification technology. This uses high temperature and high pressure to convert organic waste into green hydrogen and green gas – a sustainable alternative to natural gas. At its demo location, SCW and its partner Gasunie are currently constructing a industrial installation with initial capacity of 18.6 MW. This will be the world’s first supercritical water gasification plant. The investment from Invest-NL will enable further upscaling to 100 MW.

In parallel, SCW is developing its‘CO2CLEANUP’ process, which permanently locks up CO₂ and converts it into useful materials, such as for sustainable cement. The process is currently being tested on a modest scale. With a successful pilot, this investment will enable immediate transition to an industrial demonstration plant.

The consortium of SCW, PGGM and Invest-NL has a practical long-term strategy that is supported by Gasunie. The target over time is to produce half a million cubic metres of green gas at various locations in the Netherlands. Locking up the CO₂ released in the gasification process in useful raw materials will create a new and unique chain, producing energy from residual and waste flows and simultaneously helping to reduce global warming by removing CO₂ from the atmosphere.

Gerard Essing - founder and CEO of SCW - is thus looking forward to the upcoming cooperation: “We are delighted to welcome Invest-NL as a shareholder. Invest-NL is prepared to accept risk and invest with a long-term view. Invest-NL has proved to be a critical but also very constructive partner during the investment process. This gives confidence regarding our long-term partnership.”

Wouter Bos – CEO of Invest-NL - sees the investment as a perfect fit with the strategic objectives of Invest-NL:“SCW is an innovative and capital-intensive scale-up active in the energy and climate transition. In view of the high level of technological risk and the high capital requirement, we can play a useful additional role to regular investors.”

With the other shareholder PGGM, Invest-NL will form a strong consortium in the coming years. Sjoerd van Krimpen – Investment Director of Infrastructure at PGGM - sees the participation as clearly adding value:“The two technologies developed by SCW are at the beginning of a substantial roll-out. Invest-NL distinguishes itself by coming on board in this phase, and is thus a valuable strategic partner. The PGGM Private Equity team committed to SCW in 2019, due to the potential of the new technology for the energy transition in the Netherlands. This fits with our strategy of sustainable value creation in which financial return is paired with a positive social impact.”