This project is run by the SAS Agribiométhane consortium of ten farmers from four different farms. It has also received support from many other stakeholders, including ADEME (the French Environment and Energy Management Agency) and the Vendée General Council.

The Mortagne-sur-Sèvre methanation unit was officially opened today by Gérard Mestrallet, Chairman & CEO of GDF SUEZ, and Damien Roy, Chairman of Agribiométhane, at a ceremony attended by Stéphane Le Foll, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry as spokesman for the French government, and Bruno Retailleau, Chairman of the General Council and Senator for the Vendée.

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  • © Sébastien SALOM-GOMIS/Sipa Press
  • © Sébastien SALOM-GOMIS/Sipa Press
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  • © Sébastien SALOM-GOMIS/Sipa Press
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This unit will be the first of its kind in Western France and only the fourth in the country. It will process 21,000 metric tons of substrates representing more than 70% of the livestock effluent generated by the four farms, as well as 6,000 metric tons of food industry organic waste collected and supplied by SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT.

Green gas is the generic term applied to all gases produced from a renewable source. Biogas is a green gas released naturally when organic matter decomposes in an oxygen-free environment. After purification, this biogas becomes biomethane, and is odorized, checked and metered by GrDF before injection into natural gas supply systems.

Production is expected to reach 1 million m³ of raw biogas per year. 80% of the remaining product (digestate) will be spread on agricultural land as a fertilizer and conditioner. The first gas was injected into the mains system in April this year.

Contributing to the energy transition and meeting European renewable energy targets

At the start of this year, the European Commission set the target of a 27% contribution from renewable energy sources by 2030, with a parallel reduction of 40% in greenhouse gas emissions. The same ambition is shared in France as part of the national energy transition and the many regional plans launched to promote the use of clean, safe energy generated close to the point of consumption.

GDF SUEZ has set itself the target of making a 5% biomethane contribution - equivalent to 20 TWh - to mains gas supplies by 2020. Since 2010, its GrDF subsidiary has provided joint management of the injection working group alongside ADEME, makes an active contribution to developing this green energy source, and estimates that 73% of all the gas in the network will be green gas by 2050.

GDF SUEZ and its partner SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT are particularly involved in developing this energy of the future, which offers many benefits:

  • Local generation of a continuous supply of renewable energy
  • Reduced greenhouse gas emissions
  • Replacement of chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizers
Inauguration of the first injection unit of biomethane in Mortagne-sur-Sevre, June 20, 2014

Gérard Mestrallet, Chairman and CEO of GDF SUEZ, inaugurated with Stéphane Le Foll, Minister of Agriculture, the biogas plant of Mortagne-sur-Sevre in Vendée department. Driven by the company Agribiométhane, the project, led by a group of 10 farmers, treat livestock manure from four farms and organic waste from the regional food industry collected and supplied by SUEZ ENVIRONMENT. This unit is the first site of its kind in the West and the fourth in France.

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