Terragr'eau – anaerobic digestion

Project details

  • Main leader : Communauté de Communes du Pays d'Evian-Vallée d’Abondance
  • Type of initiative : Initiative involving different people (collective, etc.)
  • Périmètre : Territoire du Pays d’Evian-Vallée d’Abondance
  • Localisation : Vers Les Granges 74500 Vinzier
  • Date de début : novembre 2009

Economy circular topics

  • Industrial and regional ecology
  • Sustainable procurement
  • Extending useful service life
  • Responsible consumption
  • Functional service economy
  • Recycling
  • Eco-design
Description

The Terragr'eau project is the result of consultation between the mineral water company Evian, farmers and the Evian inter-communal authority. It aims to reconcile efficient agricultural activity with the preservation of the quality of seepage water from the plateau, where drinking water and mineral water catchment areas are concentrated.

A biogas plant and composting platform will be set up. These two facilities will treat and recycle all organic waste from the area, about 30,000 tonnes per year, consisting of the entire farm manure production (85%), waste from the cheese industry and green waste from waste collection sites. The degradation of organic waste by anaerobic digestion produces renewable energy, biogas and natural digestate that will be used as soil fertilizer.

The project benefits are many: protection of aquatic environments through careful, controlled spreading according to soil type, production of heat, electricity and renewable gas, reduced production of CO2 (carbon dioxide ), and a contribution to the development of agriculture of excellence, so important to our region.

Qualitative benefits

  • Preserve the quality of sources of drinking and mineral water from Evian, Ramsar-rated wetlands (Convention on wetlands of international importance), Natura 2000.
  • Treat and recycle all organic waste from the area
  • Create efficient agricultural activity supported by a collective momentum
  • Develop synergies between socio-economic stakeholders

Stages of the initiative

2006 Feasibility study for the anaerobic digestion-composting project

2009 The Evian inter-communal authority positions itself as coordinator and project leader

2013 The Serpol / Biovalis / Methanergy group is selected as delegate for the design, construction and operation of the digester and composting platform. Serpol / Biovalis / Methanergy creates SAS Terragr'eau, responsible for the construction and operation of the site.

March to April 2015 Public enquiries on the project declaration and compatibility of the Féternes and Vinzier local urban development plans - authorization to operate a plant classified for the protection of the environment

June 2015 Building permits obtained and work begins

16 October 2015 official laying of the foundation stone

Late 2016 Terragr'eau digester commissioned

Areas of activity

  • Agriculture
  • Energy
  • Recycling

Resources

  • Waste
  • Biowaste
  • Renewable energies
  • Biogas
  • Methanation
  • Compost
Implementation

Financers

  • Communauté de Communes du Pays d'Evian-Vallée d'Abondance
  • €1.73 million


  • Danone
  • €3.73 million


  • SAS Terragr'eau
  • €1.3 million


  • Union Européenne (FEDER), Région Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, Conseil Départemental de Haute-Savoie, ADEME
  • €2.5 million

Funding

The project was funded by the delegate, grant agencies, the Evian inter-communal authority and Danone
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Danielle Blache

Directeur général adjoint

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