Biogas in
France
General
Feed-in Tariff
The main tool for the support of electricity production facilities, the
obligation to purchase electricity concerns all methods of renewable
production, and in particular the photovoltaic, wind power and biomass
sectors. The associated regulatory texts are Article 10 of Law no.
2000-108 of 10 February 2000, decree no. 2001-410 of 10 May 2001,
decree no. 2000-1196 of 6 December 2000, together with, for each
sector, the price decree describing the purchase prices and attribution
conditions issued by the Energy Minister. The bodies responsible for
the obligation to purchase are the electricity distributors (EDF or
local distribution companies). The contribution to the public
electricity service, paid by all electricity consumers, makes it
possible to compensate the electricity distributors for the extra costs
linked to the obligation to purchase for renewable origin electricity.
Regarding technical specifications, certain purchase prices are
modified according to performance criteria: this is particularly the
case for biomass where an energy efficiency bonus together with a bonus
depending on the biomass type used may be granted. As regards,
photovoltaic, a highly incentive bonus for integration into
constructions and a bonus for simplified integration into constructions
have been in place following the price review in January 2010. The
criteria for granting these integration bonuses are binding and are
described in the order of 12 January 2010 relating to facilities using
radiant solar energy.
The obligation to purchase is opened by Grenelle II law to local and
regional authorities and to government-owned corporations that depend
directly from them.
The obligation to purchase is entered into for a duration of 15 to 20
years according to the technologies and their degree of maturity. For
each sector, the level of purchase prices is periodically reviewed in
order to remain in line with the maturity of the sector and the
reduction in production costs. The mechanism is financed by the
contribution to the public electricity service: the excess electricity
purchased by the energy suppliers is distributed over the electricity
bills of all users prorata with their consumption.
For the sake of brevity, the table below resumes the main
characteristics of purchase prices together with their past
development. The details of attribution conditions are provided in the
price decrees.
Summary table for Feed
in tariffs for
biogas electricity
|
Sector |
Orders
regulating the purchase
of electricity |
Duration
of contracts |
Example
of prices for facilities in service at the date of publication of the
orders |
|
Biogas |
10 July 2006 |
15 years |
between
7.5 and 9 euro cents/kWh according to the power rating, + energy
efficiency bonus between 0 and 3 euro cents/kWh |
|
|
3 October 2001 (valid for landfill biogas only) |
15 years |
4.5 to
5.72 euro cents/kWh according to the power rating + energy efficiency
bonus between 0 and 0.3 euro cents/ kWh |
|
Methanisation |
10 July 2006 |
15 years |
between
7.5 and 9 euro cents/kWh according to the power rating, +
energy efficiency bonus between 0 and 3 euro cents/kWh +
methanisation bonus of 2 euro cents/kWh . |
|
|
16 April 2002 |
15 years |
4.6
euro cents/kWh +
energy efficiency bonus between 0 and 1.2 euro cents/kWh |
Injection to the grid
The National Agency for Sanitary Safety (ANSES) submitted in
October 2008 a report on
the evaluation of sanitary hazards linked to the injection of biogas
into the natural gas
network. It concluded that there were no specific sanitary hazards
linked to the injection into the network of certain types of purified
biogas, compared to natural gas, which helped initiate the debate on
the injection of biogas into the natural gas network.
The Grenelle II law provides for the principle of injection of biogas
into the natural gas
networks, the obligation to purchase biogas injected by natural gas
suppliers at a preferential rate being fixed by legal order, together
with the establishing of a compensation system for suppliers taking
into account the extra costs linked to the obligation to purchase. No
assessment of the need to extend the gas network infrastructure to
facilitate the integration of gas from renewable energy sources has yet
been carried out. The injection of biogas into the networks is an
infant sector. Connection studies are currently being carried out on a
case by case basis. An assessment of experience gained is thus
necessary before examining this
hypothesis. Regarding the technical rules relating to connection to the
network, a technical spécification has been established by the operator
of the dominant network. This specification is available on line, on
the French Gas Association (AFG) website. In terms of connection
prices, these were established by the operator of the distribution
network and will be proposed to the regulator when the legislative and
regulatory system has been agreed (cf. paragraph above).
In both cases, as for the technical provisions, this information will
be published on the Internet site of the network operator(s) and, for
prices, on the Internet site of the Energy and Climate Directorate as
well.
It is therefore now possible to proceed with this injection while
respecting the technical
provisions of the distributors or transporters of natural gas and the
provisions relating to the origin of the waste. At present, projects
for the injection of biogas into the network may be the subject of Heat
Fund support. Discussions are under way to put in place a more specific
system to develop this emerging sector.
Future programme changes expected
The maximum tariff for purchasing electricity generated from methane
from 15.2 c€/kWh to 20.1 c€ / kWh. On average, rates will increase by
20%. An incentive will be introduced for processing manure, making
projects of particular interest to breeders. Biogas injected directly
into the networks will also benefit from a maximum redemption rate of
10.3€ / kWh.
Source of renewable energy, methane is also a great method of
treating waste, whether household waste, manure or sewage sludge. By
2020, it should help avoid emissions of carbon dioxide up to 5 million
tons.
Feed-in tariffs subject to consultation
for methanisation
Electricity from methanisation
|
Range capacity |
FIT (c€/kWh) |
Maximum value of
the premium Energy Efficiency (c € / kWh) |
Maximum values of the premium processing of livestock manure (c € /
kWh) |
|
≤ 150 kW |
13,5 |
4 |
2,6 |
|
300 kW |
12,8 |
4 |
1,5 |
|
500 kW |
12,3 |
4 |
0,9 |
|
1000 kW |
11,8 |
4 |
0 |
|
≥
2000 kW |
11,3 |
4 |
0 |
Biogas Injection
|
Débit d’injection |
Tarif (c€/kWh) |
|
≤
60m3/h |
10,3 |
|
Entre 60 et 700 m3/h |
Interpolation linéaire entre 10,3 et 5 |
|
≥
700 m3/h |
5 |
Sources
National action plan for the promotion of renewable energies 2009-2020 In accordance with Article 4 of European Union Directive 2009/28/EC
Interactive EurObserv’ER Database
http://www.eurobserv-er.org
Last
update: March 2011