Biogas in France: TotalEnergies Starts Its 2nd Largest Unit in Normandy

TotalEnergies announced the commissioning of BioNorrois, its 8th 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 GRTgaz, 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, residues from its adjacent production site, to the biomethane plant, which will represent up to 80% of the 185,000 tons of organic materials used.

The 150,000 tons of digestate produced annually by the unit will be fully utilized by Cristal Union and the Norman cooperative NatUp with partner farms, to support them in their transition to the use of sustainable and locally produced fertilizers. This new territorial installation will save more than 5,500 tons of chemical fertilizers each year and avoid emitting 30,000 tons of CO2.

The development of BioNorrois is the result of consultation with all local stakeholders, including more than 130 farmers and agri-food industries as well as local administrations and officials, allowing the project to adapt to the needs of the territory.