Evergaz and Meridiam acquire a new anaerobic digestion plant in Occitania

Biométhanisation Partenaires, a joint-venture between Evergaz and Meridiam, announces the acquisition of the biogas unit of Grand Auch located in the Gers (32). This acquisition strengthens Evergaz’s territorial coverage, which now has 10 units in its portfolio in France, saving around 50,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, equivalent to the emissions of more than 30,000 cars.

With a 7% increase in installed capacity between September 2018 and September 2019[1], French biogas confirms its dynamism and its strategic position in the challenges of energy and agricultural transition. It enables the production within territories of a green, circular and non-intermittent energy while presenting many positive externalities (reduction of CO2 emissions, maintenance of agriculture, etc.). It also offers a solution for the recovery of organic waste and the production of a natural fertilizer that can be substituted for chemical fertilizers.

By acquiring Biogaz du Grand Auch, Evergaz and Meridiam are establishing themselves in Occitania and strengthening their territorial network. Evergaz was already present in the region with the collaborative project Seven Occitanie, which is developing a network of BioGNV stations. As a major player in methanisation, Evergaz benefits from a unique experience feedback on biogas with more than 15 production plants in Europe, for 29MWél, i.e. 7,250 Nm3/h of biomethane and a treatment capacity of 675,000 tons of waste per year, thus supplying the equivalent of more than 130,000 people with energy today. By 2022, Evergaz is aiming for an annual biomethane energy production target of 120 million Nm3, an installed capacity of 64MWel and the treatment of more than 1 million tons of waste per year.

The acquisition of Biogaz du Grand Auch is made through a dedicated company called Auch Méthanisation. In addition to Evergaz and Meridiam, a company specializing in the development, financing and long-term management of sustainable and resilient public infrastructure, Patrick Minot, a recognized expert in the agricultural recovery of digestate, is also a partner in the new Auch Méthanisation entity. This partnership aims to rethink post-treatment to develop the use of digestate by spreading to local farmers. Inaugurated in 2014 by the Minister of Agriculture Stéphane Le Foll, Biogaz du Grand Auch recovers agricultural and food-processing co-products and wastewater treatment plant sludge, and has a capacity of 1,067 kWél in cogeneration (production of electricity and heat), the equivalent of the annual consumption of 4,000 people. The Grand Auch biogas unit is technically comparable to the Biogaz du Pays de Château Gontier plant (Mayenne), already operated by Evergaz. Positive feedback from a similar plant should enable the biogas operation in Grand Auch to be optimised quickly.

Evergaz and Meridiam were advised in this transaction by Natureo Finance, Winston and Strawn LLP, Ernst and Young, Halard et Associés, De Gaulle Fleurance et Associés, and Carakters.

« With the acquisition of Biogaz du Grand Auch, we confirm Evergaz’s ambition in the French and European biogas markets. We are thus continuing the roadmap established with Meridiam when our partnership was formalized in 2018, and we are committed to being a long-term partner to the territories for their biogas projects. » Frédéric Flipo, Directeur Général Délégué of Evergaz

Thierry Déau, CEO of Meridiam said : « Through this acquisition, we are strengthening our biogas footprint, a renewable energy that is essential for the ecological transition. It is also a further illustration of our desire to support innovative SMEs and foster the development of the local economy through projects that promote ecological transition in all its forms ».

[1] 2019 = 480 MW / 2018 = 447MW