Paris metropolitan waste water now processed by Europe’s largest biogas plant

In France, SIAAP -Greater Paris Sanitation Authority- and SUEZ have inaugurated the new biogas production unit at the Seine Aval wastewater treatment plant. This facility treats the wastewater of 6 million residents in Paris metropolitan area, making it the largest of its kind in Europe. This project, led by a consortium headed by SUEZ, marks a significant milestone in the plant’s modernization. It highlights SIAAP’s commitment to improving the efficiency of its wastewater treatment services and advancing toward energy independence.

The complete reconstruction project of the site’s biogas production unit, initiated in 2016, was carried out by a consortium led by SUEZ, in collaboration with its civil engineering partners Chantiers Modernes Construction, subsidiary of Vinci Construction, Demathieu Bard Construction, SOGEA Environnement – and Thetis Tanguy du Bouetiez Architecte. This initiative is part of a broader program to modernize and transform the site, undertaken by SIAAP since 2009.

With a sewage sludge treatment capacity of 130,000 metric tons per year, and a production capacity of 350 GWh/year, this biogas production unit is the largest of its kind in France. It covers 56% of the energy needs of the entire Seine Aval plant, while being self-sufficient for its own energy consumption. The new unit incorporates the highest standards for biogas plant technology to ensure continuous and safe operation. It features enhanced industrial safety, a compact design with centralized deodorization. It has also been engineered to adapt to sludge variability.

The total cost of the project amounts to €401 million (excluding VAT), including €373 million (excluding VAT) for the consortium. It has received subsidies amounting to €32 million from the Seine Normandy Water Agency amounting and €16 million in interest-free loans from the Seine Normandy Water Agency.