“With the increase in fertilizer cost and energy, we look forward to commissioning our unit of anaerobic digestion in Auros this summer, say Jérôme Cantin and Benjamin Duffau, two Girondin farmers involved in the project and who manage, respectively, 40 and 60 hectares.
> Read also : The energy crisis is accelerating the growth of biogas (10/03/2022)
Manage livestock manure
“We are concerned with the management of livestock manure,” explains Jérôme Cantin. He devotes himself to two productions, palmipeds ready to force-feed and seed corn, while Benjamin Duffau raises chickens and capons.
Initially, the objective was to respond to brought up to standard holdings. Under the impetus of the mayor of Brannens, Yannick Duffau, the project took five and a half years to complete, with the support of environmental associations.
15,000 tonnes of biomass
In early 2017, the Brannens Agri Métha association in the Pays d’Auros was created: it will lead the prefiguration phase. In 2019, an SAS was formed with nine farmers. The project represents a total investment of 6.3 million euros. It received support from Ademe and the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, with grants of €350,000 and €900,000.
To prepare for the commissioning of the unit, Jérôme Cantin and Benjamin Duffau embarked on the production of intermediate crops for energy purposes. “They play a role of plant cover and will allow us to secure the supply of the methaniser”, explains Benjamin Duffau.
The unit will convert to biogas 15,000 tonnes of biomass from nearby farms and three local companies in the fruit and vegetable sector. In addition to the nine operators who have invested, four others will supply material, including two horse farms.
The gas thus produced, equivalent to the consumption of 800 households, will be injected into the Téréga transmission network. A repurchase agreement has been concluded with Gaz de Bordeaux. The digestate will return to the farmers, who will use it for spreading. “By next year, this unit should allow us to generate savings and, in the long term, guarantee the survival of our farms, estimates Jérôme Cantin. »
> Read also : Anaerobic digestion “secures the future of operations” (23/02/2022)
Territorial anchoring
In addition to the nine operators who hold 74% of the capital, the SAS integrates three communities of municipalities, the department, the chamber of agriculture, the municipality of Auros, three industrialists and the citizens, through crowdfunding on the Miimosa platform.
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