SIAAP and SUEZ inaugurate France’s largest biogas production unit at Seine Aval

SIAAP and SUEZ have inaugurated a new biogas production unit at the Seine Aval wastewater treatment plant, the largest in Europe, as part of a modernization project to strengthen the energy sovereignty of the Paris region.

Share:

The Syndicat Interdépartemental pour l’Assainissement de l’Agglomération Parisienne (SIAAP) and SUEZ inaugurated the new biogas production unit at the Seine Aval wastewater treatment plant on July 9. Located in the Yvelines and Val d’Oise regions, this plant treats wastewater from six million people in the Paris area, making it the largest wastewater treatment facility in Europe. This modernization project, initiated in 2016, aims to improve the station’s energy performance while ensuring optimal industrial safety.

A modernization project to strengthen energy sovereignty
The biogas production unit processes 130,000 tonnes of sewage sludge per year and generates 350 GWh of renewable energy. It now covers 56% of the station’s energy needs while being self-sufficient for its own energy consumption. The total cost of the project amounts to €401 million (USD441.2m), funded through a partnership between SIAAP, SUEZ, and public grants from the Seine-Normandie Water Agency.

Advanced technology for efficiency
The new biogas production unit is based on the Digelis® Fast solution developed by SUEZ, which optimizes the sewage sludge digestion process. This technology reduces the number of digesters from 26 to 11 while maintaining the same biogas production capacity. The compactness of the process frees up 70,000 m² on the site. Additionally, energy consumption has been reduced by 10% through the integration of heat exchangers and better insulation of the facilities.

An industrial and social dimension
The construction project involved up to 350 workers at the same time, totaling 2 million hours of work, including 46,000 hours dedicated to professional integration activities. The work also resulted in a 35% reduction in the volume of concrete used for construction, with a significant proportion of low-carbon concrete in the project.

SUEZ and RATP Group formalise a supply contract for 100 GWh of renewable electricity per year, over a maximum period of sixteen years, powering the operations of the world’s third largest urban transport operator.
Valmet has secured a contract to supply a biomass boiler and flue gas cleaning system to Saica Group for its production site in El Burgo de Ebro, Spain, as part of its decarbonisation plan.
Qarlbo Biodiversity signed a memorandum of understanding with Woodland Biofuels for the delivery of thinned pine wood from managed forests in the United States to supply the Canadian company’s biomass operations.
The Canadian group Thermal Energy International has secured a CAD 1.4 million contract to install a heat recovery unit at a European malted barley producer, aiming to reduce energy costs and polluting emissions.
The asset takeover process of Global Bioenergies, under a pre-pack disposal procedure, has been extended until 18 July at noon, following requests from potential bidders seeking additional time to assess the French company's financial situation.
Canadian company Hydron Energy will supply its innovative INTRUPTor-Mid technology to produce renewable natural gas in Ontario, marking its first commercial order in the biomethane sector with a promise of significant cost reductions.
US President Donald Trump has ratified a law extending until the end of 2029 the tax credit on renewable natural gas production from biomass and animal manure, aiming to boost the rural economy.
Valmet secures a contract to deliver a bubbling fluidized bed biomass boiler and flue gas handling equipment to Kraftringen Energi's upcoming combined heat and power plant, aimed at strengthening energy supply in Sweden.
Elcimaï Environnement has completed a methanisation unit integrated into Laon's wastewater treatment plant, now enabling the conversion of sludge and bio-waste into biomethane injected into the local grid, meeting the annual energy needs of 1,150 households.
Infrastructure manager Teréga and GRDF inaugurated in Auch, Occitanie, the region’s first biomethane reverse-flow station, designed to facilitate biomethane transfer from the distribution to the transport network, representing an investment of €3mn ($3.27mn).
Eni has inaugurated its first vegetable oil extraction plant in Loudima, Republic of the Congo, marking the country's entry into the global biofuel supply chain for the transport industry.
The city of Toul has officially inaugurated a biomass heating plant operated by ENGIE Solutions, intended to supply heating from wood-energy to over 2,400 local homes starting from the next winter season.
North American biomethane capacity will increase by 70 million cubic feet per day in 2025 following a record growth of 139 mmcfd in 2024, driven notably by transportation sector demand, according to Wood Mackenzie.
The voluntary carbon market intensifies industrial interest in carbon capture within the pulp and paper and bioenergy sectors, creating an estimated $3 billion opportunity through carbon credit trading.
Germany’s announcement to eliminate double counting is shaking up manure-based biomethane and GHG certificate markets, prompting buyers to anticipate significant price hikes.
Enilive has started producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at its biorefinery in Gela, Sicily, with an annual capacity of 400,000 tons, meeting nearly a third of Europe's projected demand for 2025.
Under growing pressure to decarbonize, the world’s leading oil companies are heavily investing in biofuels, with 43 projects aiming to boost sustainable fuel production by the end of the decade.
Skyven Technologies introduces an industrial heat pump capable of generating steam, reducing Western New York Energy's CO2 emissions by 20,000 tons a year.
Unions at the Cordemais coal-fired power station have called a strike and are demanding that EDF CEO Luc Rémont come to the plant to explain the abandonment of the biomass conversion project.
Haffner Energy and Bambbco collaborate to integrate bamboo as a new sustainable biomass source. The partnership aims to strengthen the supply of biomass for clean energy production, by exploiting marginal lands.