Cristal Union, a French sugar company holding a 10% stake in the project, will provide beet pulp and other residues from its nearby facility. These materials will constitute up to 80% of the 185,000 tons of organic matter processed by the plant annually. The collaboration ensures a steady supply of raw materials for biomethane production.
The BioNorrois unit will generate 150,000 tons of digestate per year, a byproduct that Cristal Union and the local cooperative NatUp will distribute to farms. This digestate will serve as a sustainable fertilizer, replacing over 5,500 tons of chemical fertilizers annually and cutting CO2 emissions by 30,000 tons. The initiative supports local agriculture in adopting environmentally friendly practices.
The project’s development involved discussions with over 130 farmers and agri-food businesses in the region, aligning the facility’s goals with local priorities. This cooperative approach helped tailor the plant’s operations to meet community and industry needs effectively.
Karine Boissy-Rousseau, TotalEnergies’ Vice President of Green Gases, said: “The new plant, one of the largest in France, boosts the company’s biogas production capacity to over 800 GWh and reinforces its role in France’s energy transition.” The facility marks a significant step in expanding the company’s renewable energy efforts.
Xavier Astolfi, General Manager of Cristal Union, commented: “The project’s role in decarbonizing our activities and fostering a circular economy by utilizing production residues to generate energy and provide sustainable fertilizer to local farms is substantial.” The partnership highlights a practical model for integrating waste management and energy production.
The BioNorrois plant reflects a broader effort to enhance renewable energy output in Normandy. By converting organic waste into biomethane, the facility contributes to reducing reliance on traditional fuels. Its annual output of 153 GWh meets a significant portion of regional gas demand, supporting both residential and industrial users.
The use of beet pulp and residues from Cristal Union’s operations ensures efficient resource use, while the digestate benefits local farming by offering a natural alternative to synthetic fertilizers. The project’s scale and design position it as a key contributor to sustainable energy and agricultural practices in France, with TotalEnergies and its partners driving measurable environmental improvements.
