The Methabraye production site in Savigny with its digester and biofilter, photo by Naskeo
Since April 13, 2018, the methanization unit of SAS Méthabraye located in Savigny-sur-Braye in the Loir-et-Cher has been producing biomethane. In the absence of injection capacity into the natural gas distribution network in the municipality of Savigny-sur-Braye, the project to transport the biomethane was developed. The solution chosen by the Astrade engineering firm is to transport the gas in its liquid form from the biomethane production site to the injection site on the natural gas distribution network.
The solid digestate storage building, photo by Méthabraye
A pioneering site
MéthaBraye represents the culmination of six years of work and the development of an innovative solution. It is also the first injection site in the Loir-et-Cher department and the first site in France to use a gas transport solution. It consists of two sites:
- The first site, located in Savigny-sur-Braye, at the center of the 17 farms, is the biogas production site, digestate storage site, biomethane purification site, liquefaction site, and the filling station for the cryogenic shuttle that transports the biomethane to Naveil twice a week. The purification and liquefaction process was provided by Verdemobil in partnership with CryoCollect.
- The second site is in Naveil, 15 km from Savigny. It is the injection point into the natural gas distribution network.
The solid input collection truck, photo by Méthabraye
The organic matter deposit is estimated at 30,000 tons/year, including 86% livestock effluents (manure, slurry) and 14% plant resources (plant waste, CIVE silage). Méthabraye will produce 12 GWh/year of green gas, equivalent to heating 1,000 homes or 47 natural gas vehicle buses.
The project of 17 farms
The low-grade gas boiler, photo by Méthabraye
In Savigny-sur-Braye, a commune in the Centre-Val de Loire region, 34 farmers from 17 different farms joined forces to create the company SAS Méthabraye. Their idea: to collectively undertake a methanization project with the valorization of biogas into biomethane and injection into the distribution network. A first in France, as the injection capacity on the network in Savigny-sur-Braye was insufficient, Méthabraye chose to liquefy the biomethane and transport it to an injection point.
Delphine DESCAMPS, president of SAS Méthabraye, explains, “There is indeed a gas network in Savigny, but it did not correspond to our production. Our goal was to match continuous production with discontinuous consumption. It took a lot of time, energy, reflection, responsibility, decisions… Hence the interest of doing this as a group. It also took money. Including studies and land acquisition, the investment is 6.8 million euros. Benefiting from a 20% subsidy from Ademe, the associated farmers contributed their own funds and secured a loan of 5.5 million euros.”
Also, see the video produced by Watts New
Frédéric Douard
