Veolia has inaugurated a new biomethane production unit, intended to provide energy to more than 10,000 homes in Île-de-France. This innovative project, developed in partnership with the Interdepartmental union for sanitation in the Paris metropolitan area (SIAAP), transforms sewage sludge into usable gas, combining energy efficiency and emissions reduction.
The methanization unit operates using sewage sludge from the wastewater treatment of some 2.2 million Ile-de-France residents. For three weeks, this sludge is fermented in a digester at a temperature of 37°C. The process, activated by bacteria, produces a biogascontaining 65% methane, a raw material that can be transformed into biomethane usable for the urban network.
The president of SIAAP, François-Marie Didierexplains that this project makes it possible to exploit all of the biogas produced: “Until now, part of the biogas was flared and released into the atmosphere. From now on, this gas will not only be reinjected into the network but also sold, generating a new resource for the SIAAP of around two million euros per year.”
High quality biomethane
Biogas from sewage sludge goes through a series of treatments to make it more than 97% pure biomethane, compatible with the network of town gas. The process includes water extraction and filtration of volatile organic compounds and sulfatehydrogen. “To finalize the purification, compressors increase the pressure to fifteen bars, thus separating the methane and carbon dioxide molecules using specialized membranes,” detailed Christophe Plardyou SIAAP.
A portion of the extracted CO₂ is stored for reuse in biogas production, thereby maximizing the efficiency of the unit and further reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Antoine Frérotchairman of the board of directors of Veoliareaffirmed during the inauguration the objective of making sanitation installations energy self-sufficient: “Our ambition is to create a virtuous energy loop by integrating this model with other water and waste management installations in France.” The biomethane injected into the urban network will begin its distribution from mid-November, marking a turning point in the ecological resource management.
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