What are the prospects for biogas and biomethane in France in 2021?

Biogas production or biomethane production: what’s the difference?

In 2011, France was in the process of bringing its first gas grid biomethane injection site into service. A movement was born.

In fact, the biogas produced by the methanisation of fermentable organic matter (farm effluents, agricultural crop residues, municipal waste etc.) is essentially used for the purposes of producing heat and electricity (cogeneration). But that biogas can also be injected into gas networks, once it has been purified and odorised. This is where we talk of “biomethane”.

The composition of biomethane is practically identical to that of natural gas, making it an ideal substitute for the decarbonisation of those sectors that use natural gas. That potential even extends to urban transport, because this renewable gas can be used as a fuel – bioNGV – to power vehicles renewably.

French targets for biomethane injection

This move to inject biomethane into the network is part of the French desire to speed up the energy transition:

• the Energy Transition for Green Growth Law (LTECV) sets a target to increase the share of renewable gases in French natural gas consumption to 10% by 2030,

• the new Long Term Energy Schedule (PPE) sets an injection target of 7 to 10% biomethane by 2030,

• the PPE also sets a target for biomethane injection of between 14 and 22 TWh by 2028.

Survey of the biomethane sector in France in 2021

The sixth edition of the Renewable Gas Overview, published in April 2021, presents recent data on French biomethane market dynamics. In that overview, Teréga, GRDF, GRTgaz, SPEGNN and the Renewable Energies Syndicate (SER) provide a survey of the booming renewable gas sector.

It shows that, on 31st December 2020, France had 1075 biogas production units. They included 214 units (i.e. 20%) using it in the form of biomethane, injected into networks; that number had nearly doubled in the space of a year (123 sites at the end of 2019). Further figures support this picture of rapid development. Grégory Bugler, market strategy and environment manager at Teréga’s Strategy & Innovation division, explains: “79% more biomethane was injected in 2019 (compared with 2018), representing 2.2 TWh. The 214 sites represent a maximum injection capacity of 4 TWh in 2020. And 1164 projects were added to the capacities register in 2020, representing an injectable 26 TWh.” 

Teréga is playing its part in the rise of the biogas sector in France, by facilitating access to the gas network and supporting project owners. Biomethane’s potential lies particularly in the capacity for agricultural inputs and its technological maturity. “The methanisation of organic waste has been with us for a long time. It’s a mature technology with limited risk,” says Grégory Bugler.

To clarify and facilitate connection to the network, a network access map was produced with shippers and distributors. “While 20% of areas still need to be processed, the purpose of the process is to assess the potential for methanisation units within an area (number, size) and to configure the networks near to the areas we have defined,” explains Émilie Mauger. Next, calculations can be done to assess the lowest cost of the connection.

Where the prospects for biogas and biomethane are concerned, the local dimension is essential. “When it comes to biomethane, for example, we’ve seen an acceleration in intentions to inject following a launch in 2015,” notes Lionel Lalanne, manager of the Regional Development Department at Teréga. He adds: “While, in general terms, we’ve witnessed a decline in national trajectories, the DNA of the regions has since taken over and influenced the strategy.” In Aquitaine, for example, the amount of primary resources should allow sustained, albeit more mixed growth. Whereas in Occitanie, canvassing is very lively at the moment.

In that respect, the type of producer “customer” in the biogas and biomethane market is changing the ways in which networking is done. Previously, the energy market brought together industries with significant fundraising capabilities. That is not the case with farmers, who need to join forces. “That means supporting them more. We must reassure them over models of agricultural methanisation in France. We must help them be aware that the approach is relevant and sustainable,” concludes Lionel Lalanne.