Texas beer maker Real Ale Brewing Company has installed and implemented Chart’s modular CiCi (Elm) carbon capture technology at its brewery in Blanco, becoming one of the first large-scale craft breweries in Texas to incorporate small-scale CO2 recovery into its operations. The Elm system captures waste carbon dioxide produced during fermentation, purifies it to ISBT beverage-grade standards, and enables the brewery to reuse that CO2 to carbonate its beer and support production processes, thereby improving sustainability, reducing external costs, and mitigating against supply chain volatility.
The Elm carbon capture plant was installed with most of the equipment located in the back of the brewery, and key equipment inside, including a foam trap, buffer balloon, and manifold, that integrate directly with Real Ale’s fermentation process. After capture, the purified CO2 undergoes quality testing and sensory evaluation by Real Ale’s team, who report that it meets or exceeds their existing quality standards for brewing and packaging.
CiCi Technology
CiCi enables customers to capture carbon dioxide emissions with a patented purification technology that transforms a mixed gas waste stream to value, while simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Captured carbon dioxide can be returned to meet or exceed food and beverage standards at 99.9% purity or greater. Three step process; gas is dried to remove moisture, scrubbing removes volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other impurities, and chilling to below -30.4˚F (-34.7°C) converts gas to liquid carbon dioxide for storage. CiCi is available in three models – Teak, Oak, and Elm – according to capacity and site requirements.
