- ENGIE and INRAE aim to improve biomethane production through advanced technologies like in situ biomethanation, boosting efficiency by 30%.
- The partnership explores intermediate crops and bio waste recovery to increase biomass availability and reduce environmental impact.
- The collaboration seeks to strengthen the competitiveness and stability of France’s biomethane sector by addressing climate change impacts and evolving regulations.
ENGIE and the Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE) have extended their five-year partnership to strengthen France’s biomethane sector. Through innovation, they focus on improving agricultural resources, biowaste recovery, and mechanisation processes.
Their key goals include optimising biowaste recovery, improving crop production for energy, and adapting the sector to climate challenges. The renewed collaboration addresses the biomethane production’s economic, environmental, and societal impacts.
ENGIE and INRAE prioritise biowaste recovery in line with France’s sorting regulations. They introduce intermediate crops on farms to increase biomass for energy. These crops provide a sustainable way to meet growing resource demand while reducing environmental impacts.
Both partners also assess climate change’s effects on biomass resources and develop solutions to mitigate them. ENGIE and INRAE aim to ensure a stable agricultural biomass supply for biomethane production, regardless of changing climatic conditions.
Improving mechanisation for biomethane production remains another critical objective. ENGIE and INRAE explore new technologies to boost production efficiency. For example, the Métha-Hyn project, funded by ADEME, has increased biogas production by 30% using in situ biomethanation technology.
ENGIE plans to produce 10 TWh of biomethane annually in Europe by 2030. To achieve this target, the company will adopt innovative technologies that increase production efficiency and reduce operating costs. These advancements support ENGIE’s expansion of its presence in the European biomethane market.
INRAE contributes its expertise in environmental biotechnology and life-cycle analysis. Its research focuses on how agricultural practices and climate scenarios affect biomass availability and the sustainability of the biomethane sector. INRAE’s insights help optimise resource use and improve the efficiency of biomethane plants.
The collaboration also includes academic partnerships. Thesis contracts and research programs at the national and European levels drive progress in the sector. These partnerships will continue to fuel innovation in biomethane technology and resource management.
The biomethane industry faces challenges like limited agricultural biomass and shifting European regulations. ENGIE and INRAE tackle these issues by improving resource management and developing more efficient technologies. Their collaboration strengthens the sector’s resilience to economic and climate uncertainties.
New regulations, such as mandatory biowaste sorting and incentives for energy crops, create growth opportunities. ENGIE and INRAE aim to leverage these changes to enhance the European sector’s competitiveness.
As the renewable energy landscape evolves rapidly, the ENGIE-INRAE partnership offers a strategic advantage. Focusing on innovation, biowaste recovery, and advanced mechanisation will boost France’s biomethane production and maintain its global competitiveness. Their partnership supports France’s clean energy transition and aligns with Europe’s broader sustainability goals.