E.ON and Imerys inaugurate landmark energy recovery plant in Willebroek
New 29 MW installation recovers energy from industrial off-gas, supplying the Imerys site and feeding surplus electricity equivalent to the annual consumption of 40,000 households into the Belgian public grid through industrial energy valorisation.
Willebroek, July 2 2026 — As Europe accelerates its transition to electric mobility, E.ON Power Plants Belgium and Imerys Graphite & Carbon (IGC) today officially inaugurated a state-of-the-art Energy Recovery Plant at Imerys’ production site in Willebroek. The inauguration ceremony was honoured by the presence of Jean-Luc Crucke, Minister of Mobility, Climate and Ecological Transition, who attended the official opening of the plant. Built, owned, and operated by E.ON, the facility captures the energy content of industrial syngas — which contains high concentrations of hydrogen and carbon monoxide — and converts it into electricity via a high-efficiency steam turbine. With an installed power generation capacity of up to 29 MW, the plant supplies the entire Imerys site and feeds surplus power equivalent to the annual consumption of roughly 40,000 households into the Belgian public grid.
A landmark in industrial energy recovery and valorisation
Imerys’ Willebroek site is the world’s leading production facility for high-purity carbon black. This conductive additive is a crucial component for lithium-ion batteries in cars and energy storage systems. Additionally, it serves as a core component in high-performance polymers for electric vehicles, power cables, and energy storage.
While the carbon black production process inherently generates syngas, E.ON’s new plant efficiently captures and valorises this energy stream, converting it into electricity through a high-efficiency steam turbine: a textbook example of industrial energy valorisation, delivering tangible benefits for the local community, and by generating power locally, which otherwise would have been produced by other sources.
The installation also includes an advanced flue gas treatment unit with DeNOx and DeSOx systems — the best available emissions control technology to reduce NOx (nitrogen oxide) and SOx (sulphur oxide) emissions in compliance with EU regulations — setting a new standard for air quality management at an industrial scale and further reinforcing Imerys’ commitment to its local environment and community.
Key figures
- 29 MW installed electrical capacity — supplying the Imerys site and surplus electricity fed into the Belgian public grid, equivalent to the annual consumption of around 40,000 households
- 100% valorisation of syngas previously lost through flaring
- Advanced Air Quality Management: integrated DeNOx and DeSOx flue gas treatment, reducing local sulfur and nitrogen oxide emissions
- A multi-year-long-term partnership between E.ON and Imerys
This plant is a lighthouse project for Imerys Graphite & Carbon, as it represents a step change in our production process optimisation, maximising resource efficiency and minimising our climate and emissions impact. Together with our valued partner E.ON, we developed this project over the last few years and have now successfully completed it. The mutual trust and respect between our two companies, coupled with sound professionalism, have led to this remarkable success, achieved by our passionate people.
Projects like the energy recovery plant in Willebroek prove that the industrial energy transition is no longer a distant ambition – it is happening today, in partnership with forward-thinking companies like Imerys. Reaching commercial operation is an important milestone for E.ON Energy Infrastructure Solutions internationally, and we are proud to operate this plant as a tangible contribution to Belgium’s energy transition.
This installation is exactly the kind of industrial innovation Belgium needs. Recovering energy from industrial processes, reducing air pollutants, and contributing to grid stability — this is a model for sustainable industrial policy that we should be replicating across the country.
BackgroundThe project was announced in June 2023 when E.ON and Imerys signed a long-term partnership agreement. Construction began shortly thereafter on the Imerys site at Bedrijvenpark De Veert in Willebroek. The plant is now fully operational, and today’s ceremony marks the formal start of commercial operation. The Energy Recovery Plant is built, owned, and operated by E.ON Power Plants Belgium, a subsidiary of E.ON Energy Infrastructure Solutions. The electricity supply to Imerys is secured through a multi-year long-term agreement. E.ON Power Plants Belgium also operates comparable industrial energy installations at Oleon in Ertvelde, Promat (Etex Building Performance) in Tisselt, and Dow Benelux in Terneuzen. | Image  |
About Imerys
Imerys is the world’s leading supplier of mineral-based specialty solutions for the industry with €3.4 billion in revenue and 12,300 employees in 40 countries in 2025. The Group offers high value-added and functional solutions to a wide range of industries and fast-growing markets such as solutions for the energy transition and sustainable construction, as well as natural solutions for consumer goods. Imerys draws on its understanding of applications, technological knowledge, and expertise in material science to deliver solutions which contribute essential properties to customers’ products and their performance. As part of its commitment to responsible development, Imerys promotes environmentally friendly products and processes in addition to supporting its customers in their decarbonization efforts. Imerys is listed on Euronext Paris (France) with the ticker symbol NK.PA.
About E.ON Energy Infrastructure Solution
E.ON Energy Infrastructure Solutions is a European leader of integrated energy solutions for cities and industries. As a growth segment of the E.ON Group, E.ON Energy Infrastructure Solutions delivers reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy solutions in 14 European countries by combining strong engineering expertise with deep market knowledge. Its service portfolio spans the entire value chain – from planning and construction to the operation and optimization of integrated ecosystems for heating, cooling, and power.
For more information, please visit www.eon.com.
E.ON Power Plants Belgium is specialized in the development, construction, financing and operation of installations for the local production of electricity and heat. From its office in Mechelen, E.ON focuses primarily on energy solutions for larger industrial customers. E.ON Power Plants Belgium currently operates installations at Oleon in Ertvelde, at Promat (Etex Building Performance) in Tisselt and at Dow Benelux in Terneuzen.
Press contacts
E.ON: Tom De Bruyckere — +32 (0) 476 45 15 03
Imerys: Chiara Balconi — +41 (0) 79 635 67 65
Mathieu Gratiot — +33 (0)7 87 53 46 60
Isis Baracco — +33 (0) 7 88 12 33 50