TotalEnergies Partners with Cristal Union to Produce Biogas from Beet Pulp

March 01, 2024

Print This Article Share it With Friends

(TotalEnergies (Google Translation)) TotalEnergies is joining forces with the French sugar group Cristal Union, which will supply it with beet pulp for 15 years to supply BioNorrois, the Company's next biomethane production unit currently under construction in Fontaine-le-Dun, in the Seine-Maritime department, and scheduled to start at the end of 2024.

These organic residues, resulting from the processing of sugar beets by Cristal Union, will constitute more than half of the material processed by the methanizer when it starts up – the remainder being made up of organic agri-food waste sourced by TotalEnergies in the direct environment of the methanizer. 'unit. In the first phase of operation of the methanizer, the expected production of biomethane will amount to nearly 100 GWh per year and will ultimately reach its maximum capacity of 153 GWh per year.

In the spirit of cooperation, sharing of value and sustainability of the local fabric which has driven the partners since the start of the project, the agreement provides for Cristal Union to become a 10% shareholder in the BioNorrois methanizer . This is a first for a sugar group in the biogas industry in France and Europe, and a key tool in its decarbonization strategy. This project is also an example of the circular economy and the short circuit, the methanizer being located just opposite the sugar factory. In addition, the organic fertilizer obtained in addition to the biogas during the methanization process – the digestate – will be entirely valorized by Cristal Union and the NatUp group, who will distribute it to their cooperators located nearby in order to support them in their transition to fertilization. more local and sustainable.

“ Cristal Union has set itself an ambitious objective: to make all its sugar factories energy self-sufficient by 2050 by using and recovering the residue from its production. This partnership with TotalEnergies, a full-scale beet pulp methanization project, is therefore fully in line with our Group's ambitious decarbonization strategy. This biomethane plant currently under construction is a unique project in France, both in terms of its production capacity from beet pulp and its location directly from the Fontaine-le-Dun sugar factory. In addition, the digestates, rich in mineral elements and natural organic matter, will be returned to our farmer-cooperators for fertilizing and improving their fields. We are delighted with this cooperation with TotalEnergies which is built on a real relationship of trust, a co-shareholding, we are investing for the long term ,” declared Xavier Astolfi, Managing Director of Cristal Union .

“ With the BioNorrois project which will become TotalEnergies' 2nd largest biomethane production unit in France, we are continuing our sustainable growth in the country and more particularly in Normandy, a region with high potential. We are delighted with this partnership with Cristal Union, a French group of international dimension, a major player in an industrial sector of excellence and national sovereignty and committed to the energy and ecological transition. This cooperation brings all the environmental and societal benefits associated with methanization, for the parties involved and, beyond that, for the territory in which the project is fully integrated. This partnership could pave the way for other similar projects in France and Europe, ” declared Olivier Guerrini, Biogas Director at TotalEnergies .

BioNorrois in figures (for a maximum capacity of 153 GWh per year)

185,000 tonnes of recovered materials per year
150,000 m3 of digestate produced per year
5,500 tonnes of chemical fertilizers avoided per year
30,600 tonnes of CO 2 avoided per year

About Cristal Union

The Cristal Union Group is among the leading European producers of sugar and alcohol. It is mainly located in France and generates a significant part of its sales abroad. The Group brings together 2,000 employees and 9,000 cooperators. Its governance, organization and operation are based on the cooperative model.

TotalEnergies and biogas

TotalEnergies is one of the European leaders in the sector, with 1.1 TWh of gross biogas production capacity. The Company aims to become a major player in Europe and in key international markets, by joining forces with innovative or leading partners, such as Clean Energy, Veolia and Ductor. TotalEnergies is present across the entire value chain, from project development to the marketing of this renewable gas and its derived products (biofertilizers, bioCO 2 ).

About TotalEnergies

TotalEnergies is a global multi-energy company producing and supplying energy: oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gas, renewables and electricity. Its more than 100,000 employees are committed to energy that is ever more affordable, more sustainable, more reliable and accessible to as many people as possible. Present in nearly 130 countries, TotalEnergies places sustainable development in all its dimensions at the heart of its projects and operations to contribute to the well-being of populations. READ MORE

Related articles