Weltec expands anaerobic digestion plant in France

Together with its French partner Weltec Agripower, German biogas plant manufacturer Weltec Biopower is working on an extension AD (anaerobic digestion) project in Iffendic, France. A biogas plant in Iffendic was built in 2014, and now its capacity is being doubled. The biogas plant now generates 500 kilowatts (kW) per day, enough to supply almost 1,000 households.

Plant operator Samuel Morand says a good experience in 2014 helped him decide to entrust Weltec with this follow-up project. He says things again have gone smoothly. “After the quick approval process, the groundworks were finished within a short time, and Weltec commenced with its work, which also progressed speedily,” says the owner of the beef and pork livestock facilities.

“Our great experience and the close coordination of all processes with our project partner Weltec Agripower played a key role in this achievement,” says Alain Priser, who oversees Weltec’s business in France. He says the expanded plant went online after a building time of only a few months.

Morand says since in 2014 he only had a limited amount of cattle manure, pig manure, whole crop silage, cereal debris and apple pulp at his disposal, he initially decided to implement just one 2,625-square-meter stainless-steel digester and a 250-kW combined heat and power (CHP) unit. Nevertheless, Weltec designed the other plant components, such as the dosing feeder and the pumps, for a larger plant size.

In the past several years, Morand has successfully enlarged his agricultural business and now has a greater amount of cattle and pig manure at his disposal. As well, an apple juice manufacturer is now able to supply Morand with more waste from its production. This increase in the available substrate forms the basis for the plant extension with an additional 2,625-square-meter digester and an additional 250-kW CHP.

Weltec Biopower GmbH engages in stainless steel biogas plant construction. The company has planned, developed and built anaerobic digestion plants since 2001. The company has about 80 employees at its headquarters in Vechta, Germany, and has established more than 300 energy plants in 25 countries worldwide. Its global distribution and service network spans six continents, with a range of customers that includes businesses in the agriculture, food, waste and wastewater sectors.