Energy
Engie and CMA CGM partner on French biomethane project
Engie and CMA CGM have agreed to develop a large-scale biomethane facility in Le Havre to supply renewable fuel for maritime transport.
Key points
- The planned plant in Le Havre will produce 7,000 tonnes of biomethane annually.
- Operations are expected to begin between 2029 and 2030, pending a final investment decision.
- The project aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 23,000 tonnes per year.
What happened
Energy company ENGIE and shipping group CMA CGM have signed a framework agreement to jointly build a biomethane production facility in the industrial port zone of Le Havre, France, according to Offshore Technology. Scheduled to start operations in 2029 or 2030, the plant will generate 7,000 tonnes per annum of biomethane, translating to about 100 gigawatt-hours.
The facility will process livestock waste, household biowaste, and agricultural residues. In addition to renewable gas, the installation is projected to yield 100,000 tonnes per annum of organic digestate for agriculture and capture 13,000 tonnes of biogenic carbon dioxide for commercial sale.
Project structure and supply
ENGIE will manage the facility's development, technical design, permitting, and—subject to a final investment decision—its construction and operation. CMA CGM is participating as a minority co-investor via its PULSE fund, which targets clean energy technologies and decarbonisation infrastructure.
The generated renewable gas will feed into the European gas network, supplying CMA CGM vessels using a certified mass-balance approach. The shipping company plans to use the fuel in its liquefied natural gas-powered vessels without modifying existing engines or fuelling infrastructure.
Strategic objectives
According to the companies, the initiative will cut life cycle greenhouse gas emissions by at least 67% compared with traditional marine fuels. ENGIE stated that the project supports its goal of reaching 10 terawatt-hours of yearly biomethane capacity across Europe by 2035. Meanwhile, CMA CGM aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and expects to operate over 200 dual-fuel vessels capable of running on alternative fuels by 2030.
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