Agricultural methanization: the key to the fields?

What if farms produced 5% of French gas consumption in 2030? The challenge is achievable given the growing interest in the biogas sector among farmers, public authorities, and citizens.

France doesn't have gas, but it does have manure, green and agricultural waste. These raw materials, currently undervalued, could be an inexhaustible source of energy. The principle is simple: microorganisms in organic matter break down agricultural waste to produce biogas on the one hand, and residues transformed into fertilizer on the other. Biogas is used for heating, electricity, or fuel. Organic fertilizers enrich fields. In other words, a circular and virtuous economy.

More common interests

A methanization project creates a dynamic in which all the stakeholders and inhabitants of the territory have a common interest. For farmers, the benefits include:

– the creation of stable additional income (electricity sales);

– the diversification of outlets for crop residues;

– coverage of heat needs against a backdrop of rising energy costs;

– improvement of farm fertilizers (better assimilation by plants).

For local authorities and residents, a methanization project offers:

– economic attractiveness linked to the use of heat, for example;

– increased autonomy with locally produced renewable energy;

– control of waste treatment costs (fee);

– a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (capture of agricultural methane).

Regulatory and Financial Constraints

The regulatory and financial reality remains. Administrative complexity and the banks' reluctance to finance multi-million euro projects nonetheless offer cause for hope. Public authorities have recently demonstrated a proactive approach in this area. The working group set up by the Secretary of State for Energy Transition issued its conclusions at the end of March. Among the actions highlighted to help farmers: facilitating access to credit. €100 million from the Grand Plan d'Investissement (GPI) to finance a Public Investment Bank (BPI) guarantee fund has been announced.

Citizen involvement

But state guarantees will not be enough to achieve the 2030 target of 10% green gas production set by the 2015 Energy Transition Act. To achieve this, existing facilities must more than double. Citizen involvement is often the basis for success. By involving local residents in both the planning and financing stages, farmers can be sure they can successfully complete their methanization project. From this perspective, crowdfunding has already proven its relevance. Several methanization projects like that of Déméter are about to see the light of day with the help of this innovative system for the sector. Each time, residents and communities have understood that methanization will develop the territory while preserving the environment.

Cyrille Arnoux, web editorial manager

Sources: Ademe and Ministry of Ecological and Inclusive Transition