Air Liquide Enters a Long-term Partnership to Secure Its Supply of Helium-3
07 Dezember 2021 - 5:45PM
Business Wire
Regulatory News:
Air Liquide (Paris:AI) has entered into a long-term
agreement with Laurentis Energy Partners, a leader in the
clean-energy industry, to produce and distribute helium-3 (3He).
This molecule is a rare isotope of helium used in quantum
computing, quantum science, astrophysics, neutron detection,
medical imaging and, in the future, fusion. Thanks to this new
partnership, Air Liquide will be able to deliver large quantities
of helium-3 to its customers around the world.
Laurentis Energy Partners will extract helium-3 as a by-product
of the energy produced by the Darlington power generating station
in Canada. As an expert in gas management and extreme cryogenics,
Air Liquide will purify the molecule, then package and distribute
it to its customers globally. The production will start by the end
of this year.
Helium-3 is a very rare and stable isotope of helium. Compared
to the most common isotope (helium-4), helium-3 has unique physical
properties, such as a lower liquefaction temperature. Thanks to
this, helium-3 has a wide range of applications, from neutron
detection for security gates to deep science where helium-3 allows
to reach temperatures close to absolute zero. In particular,
helium-3 is necessary to produce the ultra cold required by quantum
computers that harness quantum physics to process exponentially
more data compared to classical computers. The promise of quantum
computing is accelerated development in many fields including the
search for new drugs, the discovery of new materials, and even
cyber defense. As a medical isotope, He-3 can also be used to
produce highly detailed Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of airways
in the lung.
Emilie Mouren-Renouard, Member of the Air Liquide
Executive Committee, in charge of Innovation, Digital and IT,
Intellectual Property and the Global Markets & Technologies
World Business Unit, said: “One year after the acquisition of
CryoConcept, specialized in technologies allowing to reach very low
temperatures (close to absolute zero), this major agreement
reinforces our core competencies when it comes to extreme
cryogenics and deep tech, and illustrates our ambition to push back
the frontiers of science. In particular, it enables us to offer our
customers an ever more comprehensive range of products and services
including helium-3 rare gas. It also confirms the willingness of
Air Liquide to take part in the growing market driven by the
quantum revolution and serve customers leveraging its expertise in
the field of ultra low temperatures."
Global Markets &
Technologies The GM&T World Business Unit delivers
technological solutions - molecules, equipment and services - to
support the markets of energy transition and deep tech, in order to
drive Air Liquide sustainable growth. GM&T employs 2,200 people
worldwide, and generated a 2020 revenue of 579 million euros.
A world leader in gases, technologies and services for Industry
and Health, Air Liquide is present in 78 countries with
approximately 64,500 employees and serves more than 3.8 million
customers and patients. Oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen are essential
small molecules for life, matter and energy. They embody Air
Liquide’s scientific territory and have been at the core of the
company’s activities since its creation in 1902.
Air Liquide’s ambition is to be a leader in its industry,
deliver long term performance and contribute to sustainability -
with a strong commitment to climate change and energy transition at
the heart of its strategy. The company’s customer-centric
transformation strategy aims at profitable, regular and responsible
growth over the long term. It relies on operational excellence,
selective investments, open innovation and a network organization
implemented by the Group worldwide. Through the commitment and
inventiveness of its people, Air Liquide leverages energy and
environment transition, changes in healthcare and digitization, and
delivers greater value to all its stakeholders.
Air Liquide’s revenue amounted to more than 20 billion euros in
2020. Air Liquide is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange
(compartment A) and belongs to the CAC 40, EURO STOXX 50 and
FTSE4Good indexes.
www.airliquide.com Follow us on Twitter
@airliquidegroup
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