KIC InnoEnergy: Arol Energy - Energy from Biogas

Generating energy from biogas is the core business of Arol Energy, a venture supported by KIC InnoEnergy France. We have interviewed David Bossan, the founder , to know more about AROL Energy and their development plans.

Stemming from a family of entrepreneurs, David had always wanted to create a company. At the age of 35, after a career in the industry, he decided he would take the big leap. His first choice was to take over an existing company in the domain of thermic turn-key solutions. But while working in the development plan for this company, he came across a market opportunity in the field of biogas conversion in France. Indeed, French government’s objective is to reach 1200 plants (around 900 cogeneration plants and 300 biomethane plants) by 2020. In order to achieve this objective, an increase of about 125 plants per year is required. This fact, as well as the lack of specialized actors in this niche market in France, decided David to change plans and found his own company of biogas conversion. Arol Energy is now incubated at KIC InnoEnergy France, and we have interviewed David Bossan to know more about the company and its development plans.

David, can you explain to us in a few words what is the core activity of Arol Energy?

Arol Energy provides turn-key solutions for converting biogas issued from methanisation plants either into electricity or into bio methane that can be re-injected in the network. We have a global approach that takes into account all the questions around purification and valorization of biogas. We deal with the all the aspects from the conception of the solution, to the installation and follow-up of the entry into of operation. We’ll also provide maintenance services and training.

At what stage is your company at the moment?

The company was incorporated in October 2012. 2012 was also a key year for developing strategic partnerships for developing our own product range. I would point out our partnerships with Prosernat and CNRS that will allow us to integrate real innovations in our products. Currently we are developing two R&D axes, one oriented to the reduction of the cost of biogas pre-treatment and another one oriented to the elimination of CO2 in biogas. We plan to have our product range ready by the second term 2013 and start selling to our first customers from early 2014. In order to do so, we’ll attend several specialized important fairs during the second part of the year. Currently the team is composed by three persons; myself as CEO and business development manager, a doctor specialized in chemical process engineering who spent the last two years doing some research in CEA Grenoble and a technician specialized in process design in the oil & gas industry. We also have several internships who work on various tasks including communication, business development and technical studies.

Can you tell us more about Arol’s development plans? How will be the company in 10 years?

In 10 years from now, we foresee a turnover of 30 M € and around 50 employees. Of course we plan to be present outside of France and this is where being part of KIC is very interesting for us.

We expect also to leverage our partnership with Prosernat concerning foreign activities.

What is KIC InnoEnergy bringing you, and what are the needs in which you’d need support from KIC in the future?

Apart from financial support, being coached at KIC InnoEnergy brings us credibility and a visibility that we appreciate.

But I think that the potential of KIC lies in its European network, and this is where I expect support from KIC, in facilitating the access to its network and thus allowing us to reach potential partners and customers.

Another aspect that AROL is looking for is the collaboration with KIC industrial partners within innovation projects about cogeneration solutions with fuel cell. This possibility of collaboration with industry is something very specific about KIC network that I’d like that is enhanced in the future.