Background

Meridiam has partnered with WAGA Energy, a spin-off of Air Liquide listed on Euronext, specialized in landfill biogas recovery and transformation into purified gas to be injected in the natural gas networks.

Leveraging a technology developed by Air Liquide, WAGA Energy purchases biogas generated by non hazardous waste landfills from a predictable landfill gas source, to purify it and re-inject it in natural gas networks.

Wagabox is a unique concept that maximizes landfill gas recollection compared to existing solutions. By establishing this partnership, Meridiam is supporting Waga Energy by setting up a robust framework to structure projects and accelerate the roll-out of Wagaboxes.

The first 2 “Wagabox” (60 GWh/year total capacity) financed by Meridiam have been operational since Q1 2020, and a third one since Q4 2022.

Unit   | Location                                                   | Start of Operations|Capacity (GWh/year)
1         |Ventes-de-Bourse, Normandie             | January 2020          | 25
2        | Saint-Gaudens, Occitanie                      | January 2020          | 35
3        | Madaillan, Milhac-d’Auberoche, NAQ| November 2022      | 20

Stage:

In Operation

ESG/SDG Key Facts

This innovative process of biogas valorisation is done through an efficient technical approach, proven, secured, and guaranteed by industrial and technology providers. This approach consists of:
• separating the two main components of biogas (methane and carbon dioxide) with polymer membranes
• separating the oxygen from biomethane through cryogenic distillation using a specific heat exchanger designed by Fives.
By producing biomethane, a carbon-neutral gas, Wagabox is accelerating the energy transition and contributing to a circular economy as the biomethane is produced by purifying the biogas coming from the decomposition of organic matter such as local agricultural and industrial waste, household waste, and wastewater treatment sludge.

SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation)

The Project contributes to the sustainable management of wastewater by fully complying with water discharge regulations.

SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) –The Accident Frequency Rate (LTIFR) was 0 for 2023.

SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production)

Contributes to sustainable consumption by using a by-product of landfill waste as an input for energy production. In both 2022 and 2021 the final product that was produced was made by 100% recycled materials. In 2023 the asset treated more than 10 million Nm3 of biogas.

SDG 13 (Climate Action)

The Project contributes to fight climate change by capturing landfill gas, a major source of greenhouse gases emissions (5% of global emissions ) and producing a substitute for fossil-based natural gas. Each Wagabox will allow the substitution of 20GWh of fossil natural gas per year with local biomethane. In 2022, the Project reduced the amount of greenhouse gas emitted (GHG scope 1 & 2) by the project’s activity to 368 tCO2 from 810 tCO2 in 2021.

Source: MDPI 

(1) For all three projects combined