TotalEnergies has announced the commissioning of BioNorrois, its eighth biomethane production unit in France’s Fontaine-le-Dun of Normandy region.
This facility, set to become the company’s second largest unit in Normandy, will inject 153 gigawatt hours (GWh) of biomethane annually into the natural gas transport network operated by French natural gas transmission system operator GRTgaz.
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This output is equivalent to the average annual gas consumption of more than 30,000 inhabitants.
TotalEnergies Green Gases vice-president Boissy-Rousseau said: “We are delighted with the commissioning of this new anaerobic digestion unit in Normandy, comparable in size to BioBéarn, our largest production site in France. With this new plant, which brings our biogas production capacity in the country to more than 800GWh, TotalEnergies confirms its position as a major player in the market.
“With Cristal Union, we are partnering long-term with a robust, internationally recognised partner committed to sustainable growth of its activities. 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 decarbonisation of the French energy mix.”
The project also involves a partnership with the French sugar group, Cristal Union, which holds a 10% stake.
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By GlobalDataCristal Union will supply beet pulp and residues from its production site adjacent to the biomethane plant.
This will account for up to 80% of the 185,000 tonnes (t) of organic materials used by the facility.
Cristal Union general manager Xavier Astolfi said: “We are pleased with the commissioning of this biomethane production unit located close to our sugar factory in Fontaine-le-Dun. Cristal Union has been committed to decarbonising its activities for over 20 years.
“Unlike many industries, we have an asset: the ability to valorise the residues of our production, beet pulp and industrial effluents, and reuse them to produce energy through anaerobic digestion or combustion.
“This partnership with TotalEnergies is a full-scale project for the treatment of pulp. Beyond the production of biogas from our production residues, it will allow us to provide our partner farmers with digestate to spread on their fields. A true circular economy project.”
Annually, the unit will produce 150,000t of digestate, a natural fertiliser and co-product of anaerobic digestion.
This will be fully utilised by Cristal Union and the Norman cooperative NatUp, along with partner farms, to aid in their transition to sustainable, locally produced fertilisers.
The BioNorrois installation will also save more than 5,500t of chemical fertilisers each year and prevent the emission of 30,000t of CO₂.
The development of BioNorrois involved consultation with local stakeholders including more than 130 farmers, agri-food industries and local administrations.
