Fonroche Biogaz acquired by Total

French energy company Total obtains Fonroche Biogaz, a company that designs, builds and operates anaerobic digestion units.

Total, a broad energy company that produces and markets fuels, natural gas and electricity, has the ambition to become the responsible energy major. With this acquisition of Fonroche Biogaz, which has close to 500 gigawatt-hours of installed capacity that doubled between 2019 and 2020, Total becomes the French market leader in the production of renewable gas. Fonroche Biogaz has a 10 per cent market share due to its portfolio of seven units in operation and a pipeline of four imminent projects.

Fonroche Biogaz has developed industrial and technological expertise across the entire renewable gas value chain. Its integration marks a significant step in Total’s development on the market, with prospects for rapid growth on the French and European market and for international deployment.

Philippe Sauquet, president gas, renewables and power at Total explained: “This acquisition is consistent with our strategy and our climate ambition to get to Net Zero by 2050. We believe that renewable gas has a key role to play in the energy transition as it contributes to reducing the carbon intensity of natural gas – and we support the imposition of renewable gas incorporation in natural gas networks. In 2020, we stated our intention to contribute to the development of this sector, which we expect to become more competitive in the next few years. We intend to produce 1.5 terawatt-hours (TWh) of biomethane a year by 2025 and Fonroche Biogas is therefore the cornerstone of our development in this market”.

“Our integrated business model combined with Total’s strength and global reach gives us a positive and sustainable outlook for the future. Their excellent track record in the solar sector – both in terms of the duration of their investments and their strong growth – has confirmed our decision to combine the expertise of Fonroche Biogaz teams with this French energy major,” said Yann MAUS, president and founder of Fonroche Group.

Total strengthened its presence in the sector, already effective through its affiliates Méthanergy (combined heat and power production from biogas), PitPoint and Clean Energy (biomethane production and distribution via a network of Bio-CNG/Bio-LNG stations) in Benelux and the United States. Total signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Clean Energy in December 2020 to establish a $100 million 50/50 joint venture to develop renewable gas production projects in the United States. Total plans to produce 4 to 6 TWh of biomethane a year by 2030.