Biogas: SUEZ and PRODEVAL create Works4Impact, a joint venture to commercialize decarbonated energy solutions from biomethane towards public customers in France and abroad, and thus develop green mobility

To support local communities and SUEZ’s large customers in their regional decarbonation objectives, SUEZ and PRODEVAL, a key player in the development of biomethane sector, combine their expertise and create a joint venture (60% SUEZ – 40% PRODEVAL). This joint venture aims to market offers in France and abroad to treat and recover biogas produced by the methanization of organic waste and wastewater treatment plant sludge.

SUEZ Group has supported the development of PRODEVAL since 2016 as an investor and strategic partner. In 2021, SUEZ increased its shareholding through a capital increase of 40% in PRODEVAL to enable the company to accelerate its international development in the agricultural and industrial markets and to support the expansion of its equipment range. The creation of a joint venture represents a further step in this collaboration. It will notably focus on the development of new solutions for public players to develop green mobility (distribution of bioNGV¹), at the interconnection of rural and urban regions.

Biogas, a 100% green energy produced and distributed locally, is one of the solutions offered to different players to reduce their carbon footprint. Biogas results from the biological deterioration of organic materials. When it is purified, biomethane, a renewable energy substitute for natural gas, a fossil fuel, is obtained. The compressed or liquefied biomethane can then be injected into the network and used as green fuel in many types of vehicles. Biogas is produced from two types of activity: treatment of agricultural residues by methanization, the market addressed directly by PRODEVAL, and treatment of the organic fraction of household waste and wastewater sludge, the market addressed by the new joint venture.

In the face of the climate emergency, biomethane is a decarbonized energy which promotes regional energy independence. While the transport industry represents a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions in Europe, the use of carbon-free bioNGV would enable a reduction in CO2 emissions of up to 80%2 and 75% of atmospheric pollutants3. PRODEVAL has achieved considerable growth since 2016, enabling SUEZ to offer competitive biogas purification solutions and high-performance customer service. I am very pleased with this new step in this collaboration, supported by the capital increase subscribed by SUEZ and by the implementation of this joint venture which will accelerate the commercialization of biogas recovery solutions for our customers. This is fully in line with SUEZ's climate commitments, which notably aim to save our clients 20 million tons of CO2 in avoided emissions per year by 2030.

Diane Galbe , Group SEVP - Smart & Environmental Solutions BU and Strategy

Sébastien Paolozzi, President of PRODEVAL: “Against a background of continued globalization, we believe that tomorrow's world will be powered by locally produced renewable energy. Our technologies are designed to allow for the maximization of the carbon cycle to create a virtuous circle, which is at the heart of our concerns. With the support of SUEZ, PRODEVAL will have the means to develop increasingly innovative solutions and to address new markets in France and internationally, to increase its impact in the fight against climate change. Our joint venture with SUEZ will also be fundamental in helping us to meet the demand from local authorities for green mobility and biogas purification solutions which is now more urgent than ever.”

¹BioNGV: Biogas for vehicles, either compressed (bioCNG) or liquefied (bioLNG, notably for heavy vehicles providing the best fuel efficiency)

²Compared to diesel – Source: https://www.afgnv.org/atouts-environnementaux/

³Replacing diesel with bioNGV has a positive impact on air quality, with approximately -75% of fine particles and -30% of nitrogen dioxide

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