PRESS RELEASE
from Waga Energy (EPA:WAGA)
First RNG injection using a hybrid biogas source
Waga Energy VALTOM and Waga Energy complete first RNG injection using a hybrid biogas source Eybens (France), January 7th, 2025 - VALTOM and Waga Energy commissioned a renewable natural gas (RNG) production unit in Clermont-Ferrand (Central France), supplied both by biogas from the Puy-Long Landfill and the anaerobic digestion plant at the Vernéa waste management facility. It is the first unit of its kind in Europe. On December 18th, 2024, in Clermont-Ferrand, VALTOM, a public authority in charge of waste management for the Clermont-Ferrand region in central France, and Waga Energy, a global expert in the production of Renewable Natural Gas from landfills, commissioned the first RNG production unit to be supplied by a hybrid biogas source. This unique project in Europe utilizes the WAGABOX® technology, developed and patented by Waga Energy, to upgrade biogas from both the Puy-Long Landfill and the anaerobic digestion plant at Vernéa, VALTOM’s waste management facility, located a few hundred meters apart. The RNG obtained by purifying biogas is directly injected into French operator GrDF’s network, to supply local households and businesses as well as a CNG/BioCNG filling station in Clermont-Ferrand. The WAGABOX® unit can supply up to 51,000 MMBtu (15 GWh) of RNG each year, equivalent to the annual consumption of around 2,000 homes, or 60 buses running on natural gas for vehicles (BioCNG). Its commissioning will avoid the emission of approximately 2,500 tons of CO2 eq. into the atmosphere annually, by replacing fossile natural gas with RNG, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions[1]. Biogas generated from the Puy-Long Landfill was previously converted into electricity, and biogas from the anaerobic digestion plant was used to power the incinerator at the Vernéa facility. RNG represents a solution for decarbonizing specifically hard-to-electrify sectors such as industry and transport while helping to boost local energy sovereignty. The project required an investment of €3.5 million ($3.6 million) and was co-financed by VALTOM and Waga Energy via a joint venture named “VALTOM Énergie Biométhane” which now earns revenue from RNG sales. In an effort to involve residents and encourage them to actively contribute to their region’s ecological transition, a crowdfunding campaign was also kick-started in the spring of last year via the Enerfip renewable energy financing platform, with €180,000 ($185,000) raised. Furthermore, France’s energy agency, ADEME, provided a €339,000 ($350,000) grant while Caisse des Dépôts contributed €60,000 ($62,000) through the country’s Ecocité initiative. This project marks a first for Europe and is part of an overall endeavor to upgrade bio-waste, as spearheaded by VALTOM since 2019. As a result, bio-waste collected separately and sent to the biogas plant produces RNG to refuel the trucks that process it, providing a tangible example of the circular economy on a local scale! Laurent Battut, President, VALTOM: “The commissioning of this innovative facility – the first of its kind in Europe – culminates four years of consulting with governmental departments to change a regulation, which until now, did not enable RNG production by combining biogas from an anaerobic digestion plant and a landfill. Our determination and support from the Puy-de-Dôme Prefecture have paid off and will help VALTOM accelerate the rollout of renewable energies throughout the region, for the benefit of each and every resident.” Mathieu Lefebvre, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Waga Energy: “We are proud and thrilled of this partnership with VALTOM, serving both the region and our planet. The unit’s commissioning on the date announced at the time of signing the contract illustrates our industrial know-how and our ability to undertake complex projects with a fast turnaround. This pioneering, unique European initiative is a testament to the potential synergies between an anaerobic digestion plant and a landfill site, when the latter is fitted with a WAGABOX® unit and connected to the gas grid.” - 30 - About VALTOM VALTOM is the public authority in charge of waste management for the Clermont-Ferrand region in central France, which is home to 700,600 residents, producing up to 360,000 metric tons of waste per year, of which more than 91% is recovered. Fully designed for users, VALTOM implements a responsible, progressive and sustainable policy that aligns with targets set at the regional, national and European level. Its top priorities are to prevent, upgrade, transport, process and store waste, with a commitment to the objectives below: “Generate less waste, recover more, and control costs, aiming to foster optimization and cooperation.” www.valtom63.fr About Waga Energy Waga Energy (EPA: WAGA) produces competitively priced Renewable Natural Gas (RNG, also known as “biomethane”) by upgrading landfill gas using a patented purification technology called WAGABOX®. The RNG produced is injected directly into the gas distribution networks that supply individuals and businesses, providing a substitute for fossil natural gas. Waga Energy operates 30 RNG production units in France, Spain, Canada and the USA, representing an installed capacity of more than 3,410,000 MMBtu (1 TWh) per year. Waga Energy now has 16 RNG production units under construction worldwide, including 11 the United States. Each project initiated by Waga Energy contributes to the fight against global warming and helps the energy transition. Waga Energy employs 250 people. The company is established in Philadelphia, PA, and Miami, FL. The 2023 consolidated revenue was 33.3m€. It is listed on Euronext Paris (FR0012532810 – EPA: WAGA). www.waga-energy.com/en Media contacts
[1] Estimation based on the European Directive RED II ('Renewable Energy Directive II') methodology and using the certified ISCC (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) emission factors of a standard WAGABOX® project in France. Regulatory filing PDF file File: 2025-01-07_WagaEnergy_Commissioning_HybridRNG_France_EN-US |
| Language: | English |
| Company: | Waga Energy |
| 5 Rue Raymond Chanas | |
| 38320 Eybens | |
| France | |
| Phone: | (33) 772 771 185 |
| E-mail: | laurent.barbotin@waga-energy.com |
| Internet: | www.waga-energy.com |
| ISIN: | FR0012532810 |
| Euronext Ticker: | WAGA |
| AMF Category: | Inside information / Other releases |
| EQS News ID: | 2063075 |
| End of Announcement | EQS News Service |
2063075 07-Jan-2025 CET/CEST