Energo, a Lille-based renewable energy start-up, sets up operations in Lyon
Energo is a French start-up specializing in the decarbonized production of molecules (methanol, hydrogen, etc.). With the support of the Lyon Metropolitan Authority and guidance from ONLYLYON Invest, it is opening its second office in France, located in Lyon’s 1st arrondissement.
Founded in Lille in 2018, Energo is taking on the challenge of the energy transition. The start-up develops and produces an innovative technology that converts gases (CO₂, biogas, industrial gaseous effluents, etc.) into green or low-carbon energy (methanol, hydrogen, methane) in a compact and resource-efficient way. It helps industrial players, energy companies, chemical firms, and airports reduce the carbon footprint of their operations. Just six years after its creation, Energo is expanding with the opening of a new office in Lyon in March 2024, at 4 place Tobie Robatel, in the 1st arrondissement.
Energo, a start-up serving the energy transition
Energo’s story is one of French innovation. The company gained recognition in 2021–2022 when it installed a methanation demonstrator at the Parvilliers farm in the Oise region. It then became the first French company to inject synthetic methane into the GRDF network, in collaboration with ENGIE.
The start-up has since continued its growth with the ambition of becoming a key player in decarbonization. The company has just completed a €16.5 million fundraising round, which will allow it to invest in manufacturing tools and new production units to further develop both the company and its technology.
An innovative decarbonization technology
Energo built on research from Chimie ParisTech (the National Graduate School of Chemistry in Paris) to develop its solution. It is based on plasma catalysis, a breakthrough technology that is energy-efficient, compact, and modular. This enables easy installation on industrial sites and supports gradual scaling of production capacity.
Energo’s ambition is to develop decentralized decarbonization projects, facilitate the creation of industrial ecosystems through the production of green energy and sustainable molecules such as biomethanol, hydrogen, or synthetic methane, and contribute to a circular economy among local stakeholders.
Energo is bringing fresh momentum to the decarbonization solutions market in France. Thanks to its technology, it was selected by the French government to join the French Tech 2030 program. The start-up also received the Innovation Award in June 2024 during the second edition of the France Hydrogène Awards.
A strategic location, supported by the Lyon Metropolitan Authority and guided by ONLYLYON Invest
Already commercially active in the region for several years, Energo chose the Lyon metropolitan area to be closer to its customers. It addresses the needs of the territory across industrial, energy, scientific, aviation, and agricultural sectors, strengthening the sustainable energy ecosystem in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Lyon’s Chemical Valley, with its many industrial players and strong employment base, represents a land of opportunity for the company.
Energo’s establishment also aligns perfectly with the Lyon Metropolitan Authority’s ambition to build, together with all economic stakeholders, a resilient and prosperous model adapted to tomorrow’s challenges. Energo is currently developing a project to produce sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) by converting biogas into biomethanol in the region, in partnership with Lyon–Saint Exupéry Airport and Méthalac, a Vinci Energies subsidiary based in Savoie.
Vincent Piepiora, founder and CEO of Energo, on the company’s value for the region:
“Beyond farmers and waste management operators, our offering is attractive to agri-food companies that process large volumes of plant matter and emit biogenic CO₂ that can be recovered. Other players, such as chemical companies, are also interested in decentralized production of hydrogen or certain alcohols like methanol, which we produce.”
Supported by the Lyon Metropolitan Authority through the region’s economic attractiveness program ONLYLYON Invest, Energo received assistance at every stage of its establishment. ONLYLYON Invest experts notably helped with real estate searches, connecting the company with local economic stakeholders, recruitment needs, and access to funding.
Committed to regional vitality, employment, and the preservation of resources in the Lyon metropolitan area, the ONLYLYON Invest teams are ready to advise and support you in your business establishment projects.