After several months of negotiations, a significant agreement has been reached between GazelEnergie, a subsidiary of the Czech group EPH, and the government to restart the Gardanne biomass power plant in the Bouches-du-Rhône region. The plant, with a capacity of 150 megawatts, will provide 6% of the electricity consumed in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, using 850,000 tons of biomass, mainly wood, reported Energy News.
As per the media report, the facility has been inactive since autumn 2023, after GazelEnergie and the government ended their contract due to the rising cost of biomass. According to Olga Givernet, the Deputy Minister for Energy, €800 million in funding over eight years will enable the plant’s restart by January 2025. The project is expected to create more than 90 direct jobs and around 500 indirect jobs, offering significant benefits to the local economy.
A Key Project for Energy Transition Â
The relaunch of the biomass plant is part of a national strategy focused on decarbonizing industry and promoting reindustrialization. The Deputy Minister emphasized that the plant’s reopening aligns with France’s stringent environmental standards. However, concerns about the impact of biomass on forests remain. In November 2023, the Council of State mandated a thorough evaluation of the plant’s environmental effects. GazelEnergie has confirmed that these studies are currently being reviewed by the relevant authorities.
Local and Union Reactions Â
Unions and local stakeholders have largely welcomed the decision. Jean-Michel Roccasalva, Secretary General of the CGT Gardanne Power Plant, praised the announcement, seeing it as an opportunity to protect jobs and revitalize activities linked to the plant, especially at the Fos-sur-Mer port.
To address concerns about the sustainability of the project, officials have highlighted the plant’s significantly reduced carbon footprint, now ten times lower than when it operated on coal. This initiative marks a key step toward a more balanced and responsible energy transition.
To read more about Biomass Industry News continue reading Bioenergytimes.com
