France: restart of the Gardanne biomass power plant scheduled for early 2025

The Gardanne biomass power plant, the largest in France, will resume operations in early 2025 following an agreement between GazelEnergie and the state, providing €800 million in funding and creating hundreds of jobs.

Share:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

After several months of negotiations, a major agreement has been reached between GazelEnergie, a subsidiary of the Czech group EPH, and the state to restart the Gardanne biomass power plant in the Bouches-du-Rhône region. This plant, with a capacity of 150 megawatts, will supply 6% of the electricity consumed in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, using 850,000 tons of biomass, primarily wood.

The plant has been shut down since autumn 2023, following the termination of a contract between GazelEnergie and the state due to rising biomass costs. According to Olga Givernet, Deputy Minister for Energy, €800 million in funding over eight years will enable the facility to restart in January 2025. This project is expected to create over 90 direct jobs and 500 indirect jobs, providing significant support to the local economy.

A Strategic Project for Energy Transition

The restart of the biomass power plant is part of a national policy aimed at decarbonizing industry and promoting reindustrialization. The Deputy Minister highlighted that this relaunch complies with France’s strict environmental regulations. However, concerns persist regarding the impact of biomass on forests. In November 2023, the Council of State required a comprehensive assessment of the direct and indirect environmental effects of the plant’s activity. GazelEnergie has confirmed that these studies are currently under review by the relevant authorities.

Local and Union Reactions

The decision has been positively received by unions and local stakeholders. Jean-Michel Roccasalva, Secretary General of the CGT Gardanne Power Plant, welcomed the announcement, viewing it as an opportunity to preserve jobs and revitalize activities linked to the plant, particularly at the Fos-sur-Mer port.

To address criticisms about the sustainability of the project, authorities emphasize the plant’s reduced carbon footprint, now ten times lower than that of its previous coal-based operations. This project represents an important step towards a balanced and responsible energy transition.

Vermont’s energy regulator authorises final review of a 2.2 MW project led by Clean Energy Technologies to convert agricultural waste into renewable electricity.
The increase in Brazil’s biodiesel blend mandate to 15% has reignited calls for stronger regulatory supervision as prices climb and budget constraints limit enforcement.
Waga Energy strengthens its presence in Brazil, betting on a rapidly structuring market where biomethane benefits from an incentive-based regulatory framework and strong industrial investment prospects.
John Cockerill and Axens launch NesaBTF, an industrial torrefaction technology designed to optimise biomass supply, with targeted ambitions in the growing sustainable aviation fuel market.
A R550mn grant enables Johannesburg to launch a waste-to-energy project with a 28 MW capacity under a 25-year public-private partnership model.
ENGIE signs a 15-year agreement with CVE Biogaz for the purchase of biomethane produced in Ludres, under the Biogas Production Certificates mechanism, marking a structuring step for the sector's development in France.
The first phase of a green methanol project in Inner Mongolia has successfully completed biomass gasifier technical tests, marking a key milestone in Goldwind's industrial deployment.
Eni begins the transformation of its Priolo complex in Sicily with a 500,000-tonne biorefinery and a chemical plastic recycling plant, based on its proprietary Hoop® technology.
Waga Energy has launched a biomethane production unit in Davenport, Iowa, in partnership with the Scott County Waste Commission and Linwood Mining and Minerals, with an annual capacity exceeding 60 GWh.
German group Uniper has entered into a long-term supply deal with Five Bioenergy for biomethane produced in Spain, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2027.
Hanoi is preparing a tax relief plan for biofuel producers to support domestic ethanol output ahead of the E10 mandate rollout planned for 2026.
Lesaffre and ENGIE Solutions have inaugurated a waste heat recovery unit in Marcq-en-Barœul, covering 70% of the site's thermal needs through two industrial heat pumps.
Biochar projects are drawing investor interest in India, but signing regulated offtake contracts has become essential to ensure market compliance and financial stability in the carbon sector.
EDF power solutions and Refocosta have inaugurated Colombia’s largest wood biomass power plant in Villanueva, with 30 MW of capacity and an annual output of 200 GWh injected into the national grid.
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners invests in Nivalan Biokaasu, Finland’s largest bioLNG plant, with construction set to begin in late 2025 and operations scheduled for 2027.
The Netherlands' lower house voted to adopt RED III, including technical amendments, paving the way for timely transposition by January 1, 2026, in line with EU commitments.
Technip Energies has secured two engineering contracts from Repsol for an innovative waste-to-methanol facility in Tarragona, Spain, marking a strategic milestone in its partnership with Enerkem.
Energy producer CVE Biogaz launches a facility in Tarn capable of processing 21,500 tonnes of biowaste per year to produce biomethane injected into the local gas network.
Australia refocuses its national biomass plan on agriculture and forestry, excluding green hydrogen and urban waste from eligible feedstocks.
A bipartisan group of 47 lawmakers is calling on the US Environmental Protection Agency to maintain high biodiesel quotas to support local agriculture affected by falling exports to China.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.