China: GCL and LandSpace propel the first methane rocket.

China sends its first methane-powered rocket into space with the help of GCL and LandSpace, while GCL builds wind and solar farms for a sustainable future.

Share:

Subscribe for unlimited access to all the latest energy sector news.

Over 150 multisector articles and analyses every week.

For less than €3/week*

*For an annual commitment

*Engagement annuel à seulement 99 € (au lieu de 149 €), offre valable jusqu'au 30/07/2025 minuit.

Buoyed by GCL’s slogan “Bringing Green Power to Life”, Zhuque-2 (ZQ-2 Y2), a methane-fueled rocket developed by LandSpace in collaboration with GCL System Integration Technology Co., Ltd. entered orbit following its launch at 9 a.m. (1 a.m. UTC) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.

China becomes the first country to send a rocket powered by liquid methane with Zhuque 2

GCL, a leading one-stop renewable energy service provider, is one of the main partners helping LandSpace build Zhuque 2, making China the first country in the world to send a carrier rocket powered by liquid methane into space, a cleaner, cheaper and more powerful fuel perfectly suited to reusable rockets. Thanks to its independent research and development activities, LandSpace has achieved a breakthrough in the technology used for the Zhuque-2, leading to significant progress in the application of low-cost liquid-propelled carrier rockets.

Environmental considerations are at the forefront of rocket research and development, and countries around the world are looking to replace technologies that promote carbon pollution as part of their efforts to combat climate change. Methane is an excellent low-carbon alternative to its traditional counterparts in many respects, including lower weight, less space and simpler maintenance.

The creation and testing of a rocket powered by this green, economically viable and safe propellant, with strong support from GCL, moves China to the forefront of the world stage. This milestone enables the country’s private aerospace sector to develop the next generation of robust, low-cost, high-performance carrier rocket solutions.

GCL builds wind and solar farms for a sustainable and economic future

The mission of GCL, a new leader in the energy sector and a pioneer in renewable energy innovation to facilitate the planet’s transition to clean energy, is in line with LandSpace’s commitment to designing greener, more efficient and cost-effective solutions that promote sustainable development on a global scale.

GCL sees this as an opportunity for both parties to pool their technological expertise to promote innovation in the renewable energy and aerospace sectors. The two companies will deepen cooperation to unlock the potential of generative artificial intelligence (AI) to digitize the entire aerospace value chain. A company dedicated to integrating renewable energies into everyday life, GCL is one of the main driving forces behind digital transformation and e-mobility innovation in the energy sector.

To help China and other countries accelerate the achievement of carbon emission reduction targets, the company has created several carbon-free industrial parks and smart cities. GCL is now maximizing the potential of renewable energy sources by building wind and solar farms in desert regions, bringing significant environmental and economic benefits to residents of surrounding areas. Meanwhile, the company’s participation in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has accelerated the construction of new energy infrastructures around the world, decarbonizing and stimulating the economies of the regions where it operates.

Ameresco commissions a biomethane facility in Lee County, processing 4,500 cubic feet of landfill gas per minute, and directly injects this renewable gas into the transmission network to reduce emissions and strengthen energy security.
A $24mn financing supports the construction of a 4.8 MW biomass plant designed to replace diesel in Opitciwan, bringing jobs and enhanced energy security for the Atikamekw community.
SUEZ and RATP Group formalise a supply contract for 100 GWh of renewable electricity per year, over a maximum period of sixteen years, powering the operations of the world’s third largest urban transport operator.
Valmet has secured a contract to supply a biomass boiler and flue gas cleaning system to Saica Group for its production site in El Burgo de Ebro, Spain, as part of its decarbonisation plan.
Qarlbo Biodiversity signed a memorandum of understanding with Woodland Biofuels for the delivery of thinned pine wood from managed forests in the United States to supply the Canadian company’s biomass operations.
The Canadian group Thermal Energy International has secured a CAD 1.4 million contract to install a heat recovery unit at a European malted barley producer, aiming to reduce energy costs and polluting emissions.
The asset takeover process of Global Bioenergies, under a pre-pack disposal procedure, has been extended until 18 July at noon, following requests from potential bidders seeking additional time to assess the French company's financial situation.
SIAAP and SUEZ have inaugurated a new biogas production unit at the Seine Aval wastewater treatment plant, the largest in Europe, as part of a modernization project to strengthen the energy sovereignty of the Paris region.
Canadian company Hydron Energy will supply its innovative INTRUPTor-Mid technology to produce renewable natural gas in Ontario, marking its first commercial order in the biomethane sector with a promise of significant cost reductions.
US President Donald Trump has ratified a law extending until the end of 2029 the tax credit on renewable natural gas production from biomass and animal manure, aiming to boost the rural economy.
Valmet secures a contract to deliver a bubbling fluidized bed biomass boiler and flue gas handling equipment to Kraftringen Energi's upcoming combined heat and power plant, aimed at strengthening energy supply in Sweden.
Elcimaï Environnement has completed a methanisation unit integrated into Laon's wastewater treatment plant, now enabling the conversion of sludge and bio-waste into biomethane injected into the local grid, meeting the annual energy needs of 1,150 households.
Infrastructure manager Teréga and GRDF inaugurated in Auch, Occitanie, the region’s first biomethane reverse-flow station, designed to facilitate biomethane transfer from the distribution to the transport network, representing an investment of €3mn ($3.27mn).
Eni has inaugurated its first vegetable oil extraction plant in Loudima, Republic of the Congo, marking the country's entry into the global biofuel supply chain for the transport industry.
The city of Toul has officially inaugurated a biomass heating plant operated by ENGIE Solutions, intended to supply heating from wood-energy to over 2,400 local homes starting from the next winter season.
North American biomethane capacity will increase by 70 million cubic feet per day in 2025 following a record growth of 139 mmcfd in 2024, driven notably by transportation sector demand, according to Wood Mackenzie.
The voluntary carbon market intensifies industrial interest in carbon capture within the pulp and paper and bioenergy sectors, creating an estimated $3 billion opportunity through carbon credit trading.
Germany’s announcement to eliminate double counting is shaking up manure-based biomethane and GHG certificate markets, prompting buyers to anticipate significant price hikes.
Enilive has started producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at its biorefinery in Gela, Sicily, with an annual capacity of 400,000 tons, meeting nearly a third of Europe's projected demand for 2025.
Under growing pressure to decarbonize, the world’s leading oil companies are heavily investing in biofuels, with 43 projects aiming to boost sustainable fuel production by the end of the decade.
Consent Preferences