Bioenergy in the PPE 3

Let’s take a closer look at the third Multiannual Energy Program (PPE 3). On February 13, the French government drafted a new energy roadmap. It outlines how to produce more green, French and competitive energy in order to preserve our sovereignty and reduce our dependence on imports.

After reading the PPE 3 (232 pages — not exactly light reading 😅), here are the key takeaways, along with a specific focus on bioenergy.

Enjoy the read! 👀

🎯 PPE 3: a clarified framework, ambitions still to be strengthened…

‍“This PPE 3 has the merit of avoiding a brutal collapse of the sector by providing at least a short-term direction. But it also reflects a worrying loss of ambition, particularly for solar energy. France needs a clear, stable and consistent roadmap to successfully achieve its energy transition.” Julien Hostache, President and Co-founder of Enerfip

After three years of waiting, the new Multiannual Energy Program (PPE 3) provides greater visibility for the ecological and energy transition sector, but it also raises many questions about France’s trajectory in renewable energy.

Among the key points to remember, France confirms its intention to move by 2035 to an energy mix composed of 60% low-carbon energy. The country aims to reach 585 TWh of green electricity production by 2030 and up to 693 TWh by 2035. However, the deployment of solar and onshore wind is expected to slow significantly. Solar ambitions are set at 3.5 GWp per year, compared with 6 GWp in 2025, representing a 40% decrease.

Offshore wind targets, however, stand apart from those of onshore wind, with an ambition of 15 GW installed by 2035. Unlike PPE 2, which planned the closure of 14 reactors, PPE 3 marks a turning point by relaunching nuclear power. To achieve this, the French government plans to extend the lifetime of the existing fleet and build six EPR2 (Evolutionary Power Reactor 2) units.

While PPE 3 clarifies the framework, it must still strengthen a shared ambition to accelerate the ecological and energy transition. We are once again at a turning point where it is essential to structure and innovate through new practices and habits.

Optimizing gas storage to better value production, power purchase agreements (PPAs) to secure long-term revenues, and collective self-consumption to bring production closer to usage… Beyond technologies, the challenge is to rethink the economic model and encourage new behaviors.

Today, one thing is clear: the energy transition cannot depend solely on political cycles. That is why we believe in the power of citizen savings and investment.

🐮 Bioenergy: challenges and outlook

ℹ️ Did you know that solid biomass is the leading renewable energy source in France? Representing more than one-third of primary renewable energy consumption and two-thirds of renewable energy used for heat in 2022, it stands out as a sustainable solution that supports forest resource preservation, biodiversity, and carbon sinks.

In PPE 3, bioenergy (derived from biomass, biofuels, biocombustibles or biogas produced from biomass) focuses primarily on injecting biomethane into gas networks.

In 2024, 731 installations were injecting biomethane, representing a capacity of 13.9 TWh per year. France aims to inject 44 TWh LHV by 2030 and between 47 and 82 TWh LHV by 2035, in line with current assumptions regarding biomass production capacity by that time.

Why this strategy? The injection process is considered more efficient than electricity production through cogeneration, whose support for new installations will soon be phased out. Existing infrastructures are encouraged to upgrade and convert to injection, while the development of on-farm bioNGV and biomethane transport solutions will continue to be supported, in order to better valorize livestock manure and crop residues.

These measures aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, optimize nitrogen management in agriculture, and limit the use of synthetic mineral fertilizers.

What supports this scale-up? In its effort to green gas production and strengthen energy sovereignty, the French government seeks to replace fossil gas imports with domestic biogas production.

To achieve this, and in line with the Climate and Resilience Law, it is implementing support mechanisms for injected biomethane. In addition to the existing feed-in tariff scheme, a new extra-budgetary mechanism is planned for 2026. This will introduce a blending obligation for natural gas suppliers, requiring them to obtain and return Biomethane Production Certificates (CPB) to the State. A review of this mechanism is scheduled for 2027.