Sustainable Molecules Ltd (SuMo) has launched a strategic joint venture with international project developer and investor Eren Groupe to develop, build and operate waste-to-molecules facilities. The partnership aims to accelerate deployment of SuMo’s advanced gasification technology across the UK, Europe and international markets, supported by an investment plan of up to €500 million.
The newly formed EREN-SuMo venture will focus on converting residual and non-recyclable waste into synthesis gas, or syngas, using SuMo’s pressurised gasification platform. The process produces a clean, tar-free gas stream designed to support downstream production of fuels and chemical feedstocks.
Syngas produced through the technology can be upgraded into several energy carriers and industrial products. These include renewable and low-carbon methanol, olefins, sustainable aviation fuel, hydrogen and synthetic methane.
The approach targets sectors that face major barriers to reducing emissions, particularly heavy industry, chemicals manufacturing and transport. Converting waste into feedstocks for these sectors offers an alternative route to producing lower-carbon materials and fuels.
SuMo’s gasification system is designed to process low-grade waste streams that cannot be recycled using conventional methods. Residual municipal or commercial waste can therefore be redirected from landfill or incineration into chemical and fuel production.
Waste-to-molecules technology has attracted attention in recent years as governments and industries seek alternatives to fossil-based feedstocks. Converting waste into industrial molecules may reduce landfill emissions while creating a secondary supply of chemical building blocks.
The new venture will build on SuMo’s existing development work in advanced gasification. The company has spent more than a decade developing and demonstrating its technology platform.
This work includes the operation of a 10 MWth demonstration plant. According to the company, the facility has accumulated thousands of operational hours and uses a high-pressure gasification process intended to deliver a consistent quality of syngas.
Nicolas Nouvel, Executive Director at Eren Groupe, said the partnership reflects growing demand for technologies capable of processing varied waste streams while producing reliable outputs.
“Finding a proven and mature technology using a broad range of waste streams to deliver a stable, high-grade syngas in an economically viable way is a cornerstone of industrial decarbonisation,” said Nicolas Nouvel, Executive Director at Eren Groupe. “SuMo has an outstanding team that has been able to develop a 10 MWth plant, with thousands of hours of operation and a unique high-pressure technology. We are thrilled to be joining forces with SuMo to bring it to the next level.”
Under the joint venture structure, Eren Groupe will support project development and investment as SuMo prepares to deploy its technology at commercial scale. The partners intend to pursue projects in the UK and Europe initially, with expansion into international markets.
The collaboration reflects a broader trend in the energy transition, where partnerships between technology developers and infrastructure investors are becoming more common. Such arrangements can support the shift from pilot plants to full industrial deployment.
Kamal Kalsi, Chief Executive Officer of Sustainable Molecules, said the formation of the joint venture represents a move from research and demonstration toward commercial project delivery.
“This is about taking what has historically been a difficult part of the energy transition and making it investable, repeatable and scalable,” said Kamal Kalsi, CEO of Sustainable Molecules. “With Eren’s support, we are focused on turning waste into a reliable source of low-carbon molecules that industry and investors can depend on.”
The ability to convert waste into fuels and chemicals may play a role in addressing emissions from sectors that are difficult to electrify. Aviation, shipping and heavy manufacturing often require dense fuels or chemical feedstocks that cannot easily be replaced by electricity.
Technologies that convert waste into synthetic fuels and industrial molecules are therefore being explored as part of wider decarbonisation strategies. Several countries in Europe are also examining how such systems could complement recycling and energy recovery within waste management frameworks.
Eren Groupe has experience investing in energy transition infrastructure through a range of industrial activities. The company was founded in 2011 by Pâris Mouratoglou and David Corchia following the sale of EDF Energies Nouvelles.
Since its formation, Eren has developed projects in renewable energy, energy storage and resource efficiency. The company’s industrial activities also include hydrogen production, biomethane, thermal management systems and waste processing technologies.
Through the joint venture with SuMo, Eren is expanding its involvement in technologies that convert waste into useful materials and fuels. The partners say their objective is to build projects capable of producing industrial molecules at commercial scale while addressing waste management challenges.
If successful, the partnership could contribute to the development of a circular industrial model in which residual waste is redirected into chemical and fuel supply chains. The EREN-SuMo venture plans to begin developing projects as it moves toward broader deployment of the technology.
