Elcimaï Delivers a New Anaerobic Digestion Plant in Montbrison
Elcimaï Environnement has just commissioned an anaerobic digestion plant in Montbrison (42) for the CVE Group. Construction began in February 2021 on a 2-hectare site in the ZAC des Granges. The facility was inaugurated on April 6, 2023.
The CVE Group, an independent producer of renewable energy, operates across the entire value chain, from the upstream phase (collection, unpacking, processing, and trading of organic materials) to the production of biomethane and the return of digestate to the soil. CVE develops and operates long-term anaerobic digestion units integrated into local communities, in line with a circular economy approach.
The projects developed by CVE are medium-sized and locally focused. They serve businesses, local governments, and farmers in the regions where each unit is located
CVE prioritizes the injection of biomethane into gas networks. This method of biogas utilization is the most environmentally sound and enables the generation of guarantees of origin
Elcimaï Environnement, which is developing its expertise in consulting and engineering within the circular economy and ecological transition sectors—from preliminary studies through to the construction of infrastructure—is now one of its trusted partners. It has already delivered an anaerobic digestion unit in Moret-Loing-et-Orvanne (77) and is currently conducting studies for other sites across France.
How did Elcimaï contribute to the Montbrison biogas plant ?
In Montbrison, CVE commissioned Elcimaï Environnement to provide full project management services for a biogas production and recovery plant, including injection of biomethane into the gas grid. It was designed to process up to 23,000 tons of organic waste annually, sourced from industrial activities in the Forez region (accounting for 50 % of the processed waste), municipal waste and food scraps (40 %), with a smaller portion of agricultural waste (10 %) rounding out the project.
“We proposed a substantial division of the project into lots to optimize costs,” explains Emmanuel Blanc, project manager. “Our teams thus had to coordinate and manage 19 lots with particular care over a period of just over a year, whether regarding infrastructure or the process.”
The ground was specially reinforced with rigid fill beneath the main building and the tanks. Committed to fully respecting the site’s biodiversity, CVE implemented compensatory environmental measures. These measures were monitored by France Nature Environnement, as was the entire construction project.
Some figures :
- Annual tonnage of feedstock (agricultural, industrial, and bio-waste) : 23,000 t/year
- Biomethane injection rate : 230 Nm³/h
- Production of liquid digestate (soil amendment) : 19,000 tons/year
- Production of solid digestate (soil amendment) : 3,000 t/year
- 1 hydrolysis tank : 600 m³
- 1 digester : 3,000 m³
- 1 post-digester : 1,000 m³
- 2 liquid digestate storage tanks : 2 x 4,700 m³
- Total cost : €13 million (excluding tax)