Biogas facility constructed by WELTEC BIOPOWER for beef farmers in west France
The French beef industry is taking a significant step towards sustainability with the construction of a biomethane plant by the Elivia Group, France's second-largest beef producer. The plant, being built near the company's main slaughterhouse in Le Lion-d'Angers, Pays de la Loire, is a joint venture between German manufacturer WELTEC BIOPOWER and French AGRIPOWER.
The plant, scheduled to start operations in November 2025, is an integral part of Elivia's strategy to reduce its carbon footprint. The €6 million investment will enable the plant to feed renewable biomethane directly into the public grid, marking a significant move towards renewable energy production by industrial players.
WELTEC BIOPOWER is providing the necessary infrastructure for the plant. This includes the web-based control software WELTEC CONTROL, which ensures smooth synchronisation of the plant, and the storage tank for the materials. The company's expertise in biogas processing is also evident in the use of membrane gas processing to refine the biomethane.
Each stainless steel tank in the plant has a diameter of 26.87 m, a height of 8.80 m, and a capacity of 4,991 m3. The agitators in the tanks ensure a homogeneous substrate mix for the biogas process, while the use of WELTEC CONTROL results in increased transparency, safety, and efficiency of work processes.
The biomethane produced will be used to feed into the public gas grid, contributing to France's growing biomethane production. Biomethane is playing an increasingly significant role in France's energy sector, with France now leading Europe in both the number of biomethane plants and production volume.
The use of biomethane is not only beneficial for energy production but also for agriculture. The digestate produced by the plant will be used as high-quality agricultural fertiliser. This circular approach to resource management aligns with Elivia's commitment to innovation and sustainability, which now extends across its entire value chain, including food safety and energy supply.
The Elivia Group, with a workforce of 2,700 and an annual sales volume of 152,000 t of meat, is a testament to the importance of green energy sources in the industrial and commercial sector. The company's investment in renewable energy is a step towards a more sustainable future for the beef industry and France as a whole.
France supports the growth of biomethane through public incentives like the feed-in-tariff scheme ("obligation d'achat") and mandatory biomethane volume certificates ("Certificats de Production de Biogaz") that obligate gas suppliers to include biomethane in their supply, creating a robust market incentive. The median Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) for French biomethane plants is around €130/MWh for agricultural installations, with industrial plants being costlier (~€175/MWh).
With such a strong policy framework, growing infrastructure, and industry engagement, biomethane is poised to be a key component in France’s transition towards a low-carbon energy system by 2030. The ambitious target to reach 44 TWh of biomethane injection by 2030 under the new energy and climate strategy (PPE3) is a testament to this commitment.
[1] Biomethane France (2021). Biomethane in France: Production, Infrastructure, and Market. [Online] Available at: https://www.biomethane-france.com/biomethane-france-production-infrastructure-and-market/
[2] European Biogas Association (2021). Biomethane in Europe: Production, Infrastructure, and Market. [Online] Available at: https://www.european-biogas.eu/biomethane-europe-production-infrastructure-and-market/
[3] TotalEnergies (2023). BioBéarn Anaerobic Digestion Unit. [Online] Available at: https://www.totalenergies.com/en/media/news/2023/totalenergies-and-total-energies-ventures-invest-in-the-biobern-anaerobic-digestion-unit
[4] Elivia Group (2022). Elivia Group Biomethane Plant. [Online] Available at: https://www.elivia.fr/fr/actualites/elivia-group-biomethane-plant/
- The Elivia Group's investment in a biomethane plant, built in partnership with WELTEC BIOPOWER and AGRIPOWER, represents a significant move towards renewable energy production by the industrial sector, particularly in the environmentally-focused field of climate-change mitigation.
- The construction of this biomethane plant near Le Lion-d'Angers, Pays de la Loire, is an essential step in reducing the Elivia Group's carbon footprint and aligning with France's energy sector transition towards renewable sources such as biomethane.
- The advanced technology used in the Elivia Group's biomethane plant, including WELTEC CONTROL software and membrane gas processing, demonstrates the potential of biomethane production in the broader context of France's industrial and business landscape, contributing to both energy and agricultural sectors.
- The French government is committed to fostering the growth of biomethane production through incentives like the feed-in-tariff scheme and mandatory biomethane volume certificates, positioning France as a European leader in biomethane production, advancing the nation toward its goal of a low-carbon energy system by 2030 as outlined in the PPE3 strategy.
