France Adds More Biogas

 

TotalEnergies has commissioned BioNorrois, its 8^th biomethane production unit in France, located in Fontaine-le-Dun (Normandy). It will inject 153 GWh of biomethane per year into the natural gas transport network operated by NaTran, equivalent to the average annual gas consumption of more than 30,000 inhabitants.

The French sugar group Cristal Union, partner in the project and 10% shareholder, will provide beet pulp from its adjacent production site to the biomethane plant, which will represent up to 80% of the 185,000 tons (167,829 tonnes) of organic materials used.

The 150,000 tons (136,078 tonnes) of digestate produced annually by the unit will be fully utilized by Cristal Union, Normandy cooperative NatUp, and partner farms. This new territorial installation will save more than 5500 tons of chemical fertilizers each year and avoid emitting 30,000 tons (27,215 tonnes) of carbon dioxide (CO₂), the company said.

“With this new plant, which brings our biogas production capacity in the country to more than 800 GWh, TotalEnergies confirms its position as a major player in the market. With Cristal Union, we are partnering long-term with a robust, internationally recognized partner committed to sustainable growth of its activities,” said Karine Boissy-Rousseau, vice president, green gases at TotalEnergies. “With this new biogas project, TotalEnergies continues to contribute to the promotion of a circular economy with multiple local benefits, the production of renewable energies, and the decarbonization of the French energy mix.”