This biomethane plant is the product of a collaboration between holding company Methamaine, renewable energy company ENGIE BiOZ and intercommunal association Territoire d’Energie Mayenne. The simplified joint-stock company METHAMAINE is run by 11 farming businesses and a limited liability company to source equine manure. The plant is located in the commune of Meslay-du-Maine (53) in the Mayenne department. The region has several characteristics that make it suitable for an agricultural biomethane project.
• Challenges in recycling horse manure due to a decline in mushroom farming businesses in the Val de Loire region and an increase in manure transport costs caused by the diesel price hike.
• Long-term investment and capital development models designed for transfers and changes within agricultural businesses.
• Concrete progress towards the energy transition at the regional level in response to the federation of municipalities’ Positive Energy Region road map.
• Establishment of an innovation training and technological monitoring tool by one of the partners: Agri Campus Laval.
The plant aims to generate 10 GWh of biogas and will inject 120 Nm³ CH₄/h into the GRDF network, meeting 50% of Meslay-du-Maine’s energy needs in winter and 100% in summer.