BioBéarn: Our Largest Anaerobic Digestion Unit in France – Total
BioBéarn: Our Largest Anaerobic Digestion Unit in France Total
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In January 2023, TotalEnergies commissioned the BioBéarn biogas production unit in Mourenx in the south-west of France.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- SDG 13: Climate Action
- SDG 15: Life on Land
Introduction
TotalEnergies, a major player in the biogas industry, has strengthened its position in France and Europe with the commissioning of the BioBéarn biogas production unit in Mourenx, France. This facility has an annual production capacity of 160 gigawatt hours (GWh).
Location and Background
The BioBéarn unit is situated on a 7-hectare former brownfield site in the Lacq basin. This marks TotalEnergies’ 18th biogas production unit in France. The facility is designed to convert 220,000 tons of organic waste annually from local farming activities and the agri-food industry.
Conversion Process and Sustainability
The anaerobic digestion process is employed to convert the organic waste into biogas. This biogas is then purified and transformed into biomethane, a renewable and carbon-free gas that shares similar characteristics with natural gas. The production of biomethane at BioBéarn has been certified as sustainable by ISCC, meeting the highest sustainability criteria of the EU REDII Directive.
Integration with Natural Gas Transmission Network
Since January 2023, BioBéarn has been injecting its biomethane into the natural gas transmission network operated by Teréga. The facility will gradually increase its production capacity to reach 160 GWh, equivalent to the average annual consumption of 32,000 inhabitants. By avoiding the emission of 32,000 tons of CO2 per year, BioBéarn contributes to the local and sustainable growth of the Lacq basin, a historical gas area.
Biomethane Purchase Agreement
As part of a Biomethane Purchase Agreement signed in June 2023, BioBéarn will supply Saint-Gobain France with 100 GWh of biomethane over a three-year period starting in 2024. This collaboration supports Saint-Gobain’s efforts to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions in France.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy | 7.2: Increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix | – Annual production capacity of 160 GWh of biogas – Conversion of 220,000 tons of organic waste into biogas |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning | – Avoidance of 32,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | 15.9: By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, and poverty reduction strategies | – Conversion of organic waste from local farming activities and the agri-food industry into biogas |
| SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships | – Biomethane Purchase Agreement signed with Saint-Gobain France |
Source: totalenergies.com
