29/06/2026
CO2 Recovery System Comparison
Total Engineering & Logistics Comparison Matrix
Critical Parameter
ALPEM (Switzerland) Vs Criogenic System (CS) Vs INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS (IS)
Hardware Configuration:
ALPEM - Process monobloc + Separate high-pressure gas tank
CS - Standalone cabinet + Separate insulated cryogenic tank
IS - Massive skid-mounted plant + Large external vertical silo
CO₂ Storage Phase:
ALPEM - Stable gas phase (Ambient temperature)
CS - Cryogenic liquid phase (Cold at -24 °C)
IS - Cryogenic liquid phase (Cold under pressure)
Minimum Inlet Pressure
ALPEM - A few mbar (Gently modulated suction)
CS - Minimum 0.2 bar (200 mbar)
IS - Standard atmospheric pressure (~0 bar)
Gas Balloon Required
ALPEM - NO (Direct connection to fermenters)
CS - NO (Requires pressure-rated tanks)
IS - YES (Mandatory) (Bulky flexible storage bag)
Required Utilities
ALPEM - Electricity only
CS - Electricity + Brewery glycol loop at -5 °C
IS - Electricity + Water + Glycol or Ammonia cooling
Operating Cost (OPEX)
ALPEM - ~€0.01 / kg (Lowest on the market)
CS - ~€0.03 - €0.06 / kg
IS - ~0.22 kWh / kg CO₂ (Uneconomical on a small scale)
Idle Losses (Downtime)
ALPEM - 0% (Gas remains sealed indefinitely)
CS - Variable (Boil-off) (Gas vents if system sits idle)
IS- Minimal / Automated (Managed via re-liquefaction)
Tank Placement Options
ALPEM - Flexible: Indoors or Outdoors
CS- Flexible: Indoors or Outdoors (Possible Blow-off)
IS - Outdoors only (Dedicated industrial footprint)
Purity Level (O₂)
ALPEM - < 10 ppm (Standard Beverage Grade)
CS - < 5-10 ppb (Deep cryogenic purification)
IS - < 5 ppm (Absolute industrial standard)
Production Target Range
ALPEM - Microbreweries & Craft breweries.
CS- Craft breweries & medium-sized facilities
IS - Large commercial plants (>150,000 hL/year)
Strategic Profiles of the Manufacturers
1. ALPEM: Maximum Energy Efficiency & Architectural SimplicityALPEM has engineered its system to strip away unnecessary auxiliary utilities, slashing operational costs to the bone.
Low-mbar Management: By operating at near-atmospheric pressures, it connects directly to the fermenters' blow-off arms without any risk of drawing a vacuum or requiring a bulky, space-consuming raw gas balloon room.
It allows you to capture gas very early in the active fermentation window.
The Physics of Storage: Storing CO₂ as a pressurized gas at ambient temperature inside its tank makes it thermally immune. If the brewery closes for holidays or maintenance, no gas vents, preventing financial waste.
Impact on Your Data: With your high CO₂ cost of €1.80/kg, Alpem's €0.01/kg OPEX ensures the fastest Return on Investment (ROI) on the market. Furthermore, it completely bypasses your cooling loop, leaving all your -5 °C glycol power dedicated to cellaring and crash-cooling.
