Advancing e-methane in France: A conversation with Etienne Philippe from GRDF
In this interview, we explore the evolving landscape of e-methane production with Etienne Philippe, Project Officer for Renewable and Low-Carbon Gases at GRDF. As a pioneer in France’s renewable gas sector, GRDF recently marked a significant milestone with the country’s first e-methane injection in July 2022. Etienne discusses the current landscape, highlighting that around a dozen power-to-methane projects are in development, which could collectively produce up to 8 TWh by 2035. He also emphasises the importance of utilising biogenic CO2 from anaerobic digestion and gasification plants, as well as the regulatory frameworks essential for scaling up e-methane production.
Can you provide an update on some of GRDF’s most recent methanisation projects, and how they are contributing to the growth of biomethane production in France?
GRDF has been heavily involved in the development of renewable gas in France for over a decade. As of today, more than 700 anaerobic digestion plants are already injecting biomethane into the gas network, with nearly 600 units connected to GRDF’s distribution grid. Overall, the installed biomethane production capacity exceeds 12,5 TWh/year, representing 3% of annual gas consumption. To reach a fivefold increase of green gases production by 2030, GRDF is also supporting innovative technologies such as waste gasification (pyrogasification and hydrothermal gasification) and power-to-methane, which will be crucial for meeting our objectives regarding energy transition and greenhouse gas emissions reduction. To this matter, we are proud to have published, in mid-2024, an Overview of Green Gas Technologies (Report in English) that covers the dynamics of all these technologies, including R&D challenges, key advancements toward industrialisation, as well as pioneering projects.
How does GRDF see the growth trajectory of e-methane production in France over the coming decade?
GRDF hosted France’s first e-methane injection in July 2022, successfully conducted by the ENERGO demonstrator, which converted CO2 from a biomethane plant in Sempigny. This milestone echoed the first injection of agricultural biomethane nearly ten years earlier. There are now around a dozen power-to-methane projects in development across France, exploring various architectures in terms of size (ranging from 10 to 150 Nm3/h), technology (catalytic or biological methanation), and CO2 sources (industrial or biogenic CO2, either pure or mixed in raw biogas). GRDF is particularly invested in accompanying three power-to-methane projects that are expected to be commissioned by the end of the year or early 2025 (MethyCentre by Storengy, Pau-Lescar Biofactory by SUEZ, Denobio by ENOSIS).
By 2035, we can expect several industrial-scale e-methane projects to be operational in France, representing up to 8 TWh of production. In fact, e-methane projects can benefit from biomethane development in two main aspects:
Firstly, biogenic CO2 feedstock. Anaerobic digestion plants (and gasification units in the mid-run) represent a very pure source of biogenic CO2, with low to negligible capture costs. For instance, most upcoming projects are located next to biomethane plants, utilising sewage sludge or agricultural residues. The proximity of these units also enables synergies such as thermal integration or biogas upgrading through methanation. Secondly, strong regulatory framework. Biomethane has paved the way for other renewable, low-carbon, and recovered gas technologies. Any gas producer is entitled to access the gas grid for injection. Additionally, green gases are eligible for the “right to inject” framework supervised by the French Energy Regulator, which ensures the optimisation of gas grid development while sharing the costs of plant connections and grid reinforcement (e.g. compression stations from the distribution to the transportation grid) between gas producers and consumers.
What role do you see e-methane playing in France’s overall energy mix and carbon reduction strategy over the next decade?
In the latest ten-year gas prospective exercise, Perspectives Gaz 2024, GRDF and other French gas operators anticipate that the advancement of renewable and low-carbon gases – expected to exceed 40% of the French gas mix by 2035 – combined with a 30% reduction in consumption through sobriety, energy efficiency, and energy substitution, will contribute to lowering greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Fit for 55 plan. Biomethane from anaerobic digestion will play a significant role in gas decarbonation, alongside gasification technologies. Additionally, e-methane can benefit from the CO2 co-produced by these processes, as mentioned earlier. More broadly, the power-to-methane sector will help loop the energy system, closely interacting with the development of intermittent renewable electric energy in the medium and long term.
Do you believe the European policy framework is ready to scale up e-methane production, or are specific regulatory improvements still needed?
It is necessary to close the gap between fossil and renewables energies, including gas. Despite their complexity, RED II and more recent RED III frameworks are essential for steering energy production toward sustainable practices, combined with carbon taxation schemes or sector-specific renewable incorporation targets. Regarding e-methane, a clear definition of low-carbon gases is still pending at the EU level prior to the national implementation of the regulation.
Along with new technologies for gas production, the development of e-methane requires support mechanisms to be implemented quickly to facilitate the emergence of the first projects and provide long-term economic incentives.
About GRDF
GRDF is the main gas distribution system operator in France, distributing gas to more than 11 million customers every day, regardless of their supplier. As part of its public service mission, GRDF builds, operates, and maintains the largest gas distribution network in Europe (200,715 km) safely and to the highest quality standards. Decarbonisation is at the core of GRDF’s new company project, which aims to support a fivefold increase in the production of renewable and low-carbon gases in France by 2030, halve its activities’ emissions, as well as help clients and partners reduce their carbon footprints.
