ENGIE: R&D Helping ENGIE Plan for World of Tomorrow

Long recognised as one of the long-term solutions and contributors within a modern energy mix, biogas is yet to see the uptake of offshore wind or commercial solar, but as technology advances and ideas become cheaper and easier to implement, this important provider of clean, renewable energy is starting to come into its own.

Still, only two billion cubic meters (bcm) of biogas are produced each year in Europe. The continent consumes some 470 bcm annually, so there is room for growth. Industry onlookers vary in their predictions for how big and how fast the industry can grow – some suggest almost 100 bcm by 2050, others are more conservative, predicting 20-36 bcm per year.

Germany leads way in biogas production, but hit a stumbling block in 2014 when government removed support for the sector after environmental concerns. Denmark is viewed by many as the example, with biogas representing 10% of gas injected into the national grid. Both France and Italy have been inspired and, with favourable policy conditions, these two European powerhouses are rolling out biogas successfully.

In France, one of the leading organisations involved in the biogas revolution is ENGIE. A leading global energy player, ENGIE exists to aid in the transition to a low-carbon society. Headquartered in Paris, with 170,000 employees around the world, ENGIE walks the walk. Formerly known as GDF, the national gas monopoly in France, the company has broadened its horizons

Alongside its subsidiary, ENGIE Bioz, the aspiration is to produce five terawatt-hours of biomethane by 2030. The company already has a number of operational plants around France, and more will come online soon. In Italy, ENGIE has been active for 20 years, now recognised as one of the country’s energy leaders. Across the rest of Europe, the company commands revenues of more than €17 billion.

GREEN GAS
In September, ENGIE launched its new green gas and energy transition technology research centre, the ENGIE CRIGEN centre, in Stains, France. Located just north of Paris, the new centre will undertake operational R&D projects while developing industrial pilot projects in France and Europe, to hone expertise in low-carbon technologies and to help projects to reach maturity.

Academics from different areas of thought and different regions will share the new centre. All experts in their field, with several PhD graduates and many studying for Doctorates, the research team will be focussed around green gases, new energy uses and technologies of the future.

Main areas of study include low-carbon energies and in particular green gases (hydrogen, biogas, etc.); intelligent and efficient energy consumption in cities, buildings and industry 4.0; and emerging technologies essential for the energy transition (artificial intelligence, nanotechnologies, robots and drones, etc.).

The opening of the new centre was marked with a small gathering of Jean-Pierre Clamadieu, ENGIE Chairman of the Board; Claire Waysand, ENGIE interim CEO; Azzédine Taïbi, Mayor of Stains; Bernard Larrouturou, Head of Research and Innovation Division representing Frédérique Vidal, Minister of Education and Research; and Eric Cesari, Vice President of the Grand Paris Metropolis.

“In a world in which industrial changes are extremely fast, R&D is essential to maintain our competitiveness. We are convinced that accelerating the transition to a carbon-neutral economy is based on an ambitious Research and Development policy. This investment in our new research centre gives our teams the resources they need to invent the solutions of tomorrow,” said Jean-Pierre Clamadieu and Claire Waysand, in a joint statement. 

In 2019, ENGIE committed €189 million to R&D spending and now has eight R&D centres in seven countries.

In July, ENGIE signed a MoU with BTS Biogas – part of Bioenergy DevCo – to share expertise and resources with the goal of advancing low carbon technologies and decarbonization strategies across Italy and then Europe. As a leader in the biogas sector, Bioenergy DevCo through BTS Biogas hopes to build a pipeline in partnership with ENGIE that will result in the construction of more anaerobic digestion projects, where organic waste can be used to create renewable natural gas.

Franco Lusuriello, CEO of BTS Biogas commented: “Entering into this partnership with ENGIE provides us with incredible opportunities to leverage our technology and expertise on decarbonization projects. Anaerobic digestion is experiencing a renaissance, with increased interest throughout Europe, Asia and now North America – but our heart and our home is and will always be Italian. Through this deal we can help ensure that Italy meets its zero-carbon goals, invests in sustainable projects that encourage economic recovery and contributes to the global fight against climate change.”

Shawn Kreloff, CEO of Bioenergy DevCo and Executive Chairman BTS Biogas agreed, saying: “The agreement between ENGIE and BTS Biogas brings together two leaders in sustainable energy development. The BTS approach to anaerobic digestion is unmatched, driven by decades of experience, data and innovation – and we look forward to the projects that result from this collaboration as more communities and businesses worldwide realise the potential for both sustainable organic waste management and renewable energy generation powered by BTS’ anaerobic digestion solution.”

From the ENGIE side, CEO of ENGIE Italia, Damien Terouanne was excited: “This is a valuable partnership,” he said. “ENGIE aims to be the leader of the zero-carbon transition and is committed to the realisation of numerous projects for the production of sustainable energy. In BTS Biogas we have found profound technological competence for the construction of advanced biomethane production plants with numerous environmental and economic advantages. In the current historical context progress in the field of environmental and social sustainability means pushing and supporting economic recovery.”

FUTURE STRATEGY?
While biogas is viewed by most as an important part of strategy for not just businesses in the sector but also countries and economies, the future of this form of energy generation – and renewables as a whole – was briefly called into question recently when ENGIE announced the appointment of Catherine MacGregor as its new CEO. From 1 January 2021, MacGregor will lead the organisation forward, executing its transformation to a carbon neutral economy. Paulo Almirante, Judith Hartmann and Claire Waysand will continue to serve as interim management team until January 1st.

However, MacGregor’s career has largely centred around the oil and gas and fossil fuels industries and it was asked if her experience was appropriate for a global company looking to embrace renewables.

“On behalf of the Board and employees of the Group, I am pleased to welcome Catherine MacGregor and wish her full success in her missions. Her professional and personal skills will be essential assets in accelerating ENGIE’s transformation. I look forward to working with her in the months and years to come to deliver the Group’s strategic orientations,” said Jean-Pierre Clamadieu.

“One should not reduce Catherine MacGregor to someone who comes from the oil industry. She has had a career in services to the extractive industries, but more than that she is someone who has major operational experience in complex environments and who has overcome all those challenges successfully,” he added.

MacGregor’s career spans more than two decades in the energy industry, starting out at Schlumberger in 1995 and holding senior positions across the globe, before joining TechnipFMC in 2019 and leading the Technip Energies business.

“I would like to thank the Board of Directors for the confidence it shows in me. It honours and commits me. On the strength of our shared industry culture and my operational experience, I will work with all of our teams to achieve our goal of enabling ENGIE to accelerate the energy transition,” she said.

RENVICO ACQUISITION
At the end of 2019, ENGIE acquired Renvico, a renewable energy business with interests in offshore wind in Europe. With 329 MW of installed wind capacity and a greenfield portfolio of 300MW, the hope is that this latest acquisition will offer up hope to those who are set on a carbon neutral future.

Gwenaëlle Avice-Huet, ENGIE’s Executive vice president in charge of Renewable Energy said: “This acquisition will contribute to ENGIE’s growth ambitions, adding 9 GW worldwide by 2021, of which 3 GW in Europe. In France, this transaction will allow ENGIE to strengthen its onshore wind leadership, with a 2.1 GW installed capacity at the end of 2018. In Italy, ENGIE will double its onshore wind installed capacity, to reach more than 300 MW. ENGIE already supplies 100% green electricity for 2.9 million clients in France and one million clients in Italy. This new portfolio brings also an additional 300 MW capacity to be developed. It’s a corner stone of our ambition to accelerate the zero-carbon transition of our clients.”

This approach, taken by ENGIE but only a handful of other global energy businesses, is vital for the future of the sector. As perceptions change and people position the spotlight right over the energy industry, there is a clear demand for renewable, carbon neutral and environmentally friendly practices.

By investing heavily into research and development, gaining world-class expertise to lead the business, and brining on board other businesses with shared values and expertise, ENGIE is actively working towards its purpose. By adding three or four GW of renewable capacity each year, ENGIE perhaps the perfect example of a business doing the rig