In Dordogne, bioGNV transforms agriculture

A French farmer has chosen to turn to biogas and has succeeded in producing fuel and electricity from the excrement of his cows.

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

In the Dordogne, bioNGV is taking root and transforming the agricultural sector. Here methane is used as fuel by Bertrand Guérin. This farmer opted to produce methane gas from his cows’ excrement to reduce harmful emissions from agriculture without giving up raising animals.

A farm in the Dordogne region of France has become automated thanks to bioNGV

Located just a few steps from the barn, a gas station was built to allow Bertrand Guérin to fill up his tractor. This station does not sell diesel, but bioGNV (natural biogas for vehicles), produced directly on the farm. This innovation saved the operator money, but also reduced pollution. This fuel powers all of the farm’s cars and a new tractor, the first to run on bioNGV, which was put on sale last year by the Italian-American manufacturer New Holland.

The environmental and economic benefits of bioNGV

Methane is a gas that warms the climate much more than CO2 and it plummets the carbon balance of cattle farming. Nearly half of the greenhouse gas emissions from French agriculture are due to methane, whether it is belched out by cows or released from their manure. To improve his carbon footprint, and spend less, Bertrand Guérin transforms this source of pollution into fertilizer and fuel. Every day, 40 tons of organic matter, two thirds of which is manure and slurry and one third is waste from the food industry, are swallowed up by the methanizer to ferment at 38 degrees. Bacteria degrade the material and release CO2 and methane. Most of this biogas is burned to turn a motor that generates heat and power. The electricity is injected into the grid to supply “the equivalent of 1,000 families”. A fraction of the biogas is purified to keep only the methane, and compressed to make fuel.

Agriculture, a sector of the future

Bertrand Guérin, vice-president of the Association of methanizing farmers in France (AAMF), wants farmers to develop this profession. According to him, giants such as Engie and TotalEnergies, in search of alternatives to fossil fuels, could seize the market related to methane from agricultural activity. Let the farmers develop this profession, pleads the breeder.

The partnership between Fluor and JGC has handed over LNG Canada's second liquefaction unit, completing the first phase of the major gas project on Canada’s west coast.
Northern Oil and Gas and Infinity Natural Resources invest $1.2bn to acquire Utica gas and infrastructure assets in Ohio, strengthening NOG’s gas profile through vertical integration and high growth potential.
China has received its first liquefied natural gas shipment from Russia’s Portovaya facility, despite growing international sanctions targeting Russian energy exports.
Brazil’s natural gas market liberalisation has led to the migration of 13.3 million cubic metres per day, dominated by the ceramics and steel sectors, disrupting the national competitive balance.
Sasol has launched a new gas processing facility in Mozambique to secure fuel supply for the Temane thermal power plant and support the national power grid’s expansion.
With the addition of Nguya FLNG to Tango, Eni secures 3 mtpa of capacity in Congo, locking in non-Russian volumes for Italy and positioning Brazzaville within the ranks of visible African LNG exporters.
Japan’s JERA has signed a liquefied natural gas supply contract with India’s Torrent Power for four cargoes annually from 2027, marking a shift in its LNG portfolio toward South Asia.
The merger of TotalEnergies and Repsol’s UK assets into NEO NEXT+ creates a 250,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day operator, repositioning the majors in response to the UK’s fiscal regime and basin decline.
Climate requirements imposed by the European due diligence directive are complicating trade relations between the European Union and Qatar, jeopardising long-term gas supply as the global LNG market undergoes major shifts.
A report forecasts that improved industrial energy efficiency and residential electrification could significantly reduce Colombia’s need for imported gas by 2030.
Falling rig counts and surging natural gas demand are reshaping the Lower 48 energy landscape, fuelling a rebound in gas-focused mergers and acquisitions.
The Nigerian government has approved a payment of NGN185bn ($128 million) to settle debts owed to gas producers, aiming to secure electricity supply and attract new investments in the energy sector.
Riley Exploration Permian has finalised the sale of its Dovetail Midstream entity to Targa Northern Delaware for $111 million, with an additional conditional payment of up to $60 million. The deal also includes a future transfer of equipment for $10 million.
Stanwell has secured an exclusive agreement with Quinbrook for the development of the Gladstone SDA Energy Hub, combining gas turbines and long-duration battery storage to support Queensland’s electricity grid stability.
The growth of US liquefied natural gas exports could slow if rising domestic costs continue to squeeze margins, as new volumes hit an already saturated global market.
Turkmenistan is leveraging the Global Gas Centre to build commercial links in Europe and South Asia, as it responds to its current dependence on China and a shifting post-Russian gas market.
The Marmara Ereğlisi liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal operated by BOTAŞ is increasing its regasification capacity, consolidating Türkiye’s role as a regional player in gas redistribution toward the Balkans and Southeast Europe.
Budapest contests the European agreement to ban Russian natural gas imports by 2027, claiming the measure is incompatible with its economic interests and the European Union's founding treaties.
The European Union has enshrined in law a complete ban on Russian gas by 2027, forcing utilities, operators, traders and states to restructure contracts, physical flows and supply strategies under strict regulatory pressure.
The partial exploitation of associated gas from the Badila field by Perenco supplies electricity to Moundou, highlighting the logistical and financial challenges of gas development in Chad.

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.