Construction begins on biomethane from wastewater plant in Marseille
Construction of a biomethane production and injection plant has begun in Marseille, France. The facility will produce the renewable gas from the wastewater treatment process.
On 8 March Suez, through its subsidiary SERAMM (Service d’Assainissement Marseille Metropole), officially commenced construction on the new facility. Aix-Marseille-Provence metropolitan area, Suez, the French Water Agency, the French Environment and Energy Management Agency and Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur region have invested €9.2 million in the conversion of part of Marseille’s Geolide wastewater treatment plant.
The aim of the project is to produce enough biomethane to supply 2,500 households from 1 January 2019. It is also hoped that in the future, the biomethane will be compressed and used in fuelling public transport.
Biogas produced in the sludge digestion process will be collected, converted into biomethane and injected into the public natural gas network at a rate of 2.3 million Nm3 a year. According to a statement from Suez, this will make it the largest such facility in France.
Environmental benefits
According to the Suez statement, the proportion of recoverable biogas will increase by 35%, while CO2 emissions should drop by 30%.
“This facility will enable our metropolitan area to produce a more environmentally friendly green energy,” said Jean-Claude Gaudin president of Aix-Marseille-Provence metropolitan area and Mayor of Marseille.
“Aix-Marseille-Provence takes action in a wide range of areas including transport, economic development, the energy transition and a better quality of life for our residents.
