Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis selects Waga Energy for RNG project

The Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis spans agricultural, urban, and industrial zones, combining 92 municipalities over a territory of 3,148 km².

Managed by the Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis, the Arbois Landfill can process up to 115,000 tonnes of waste annually – based on the latest French prefecture decree in 2024.

As part of the project, Waga Energy will finance and construct a purification unit at the site, using its patented WAGABOX technology to convert landfill gas (LFG) into biomethane aka renewable natural gas (RNG), a renewable substitute for fossil-based natural gas.

The WAGABOX unit will be commissioned in 2026 and operated by Waga Energy for an initial 16-year period.

As requested by the Metropolis, the unit will be partially supplied by a photovoltaic power plant with an output of 1 MWp, which will also be built and operated by Waga Energy.

With this new RNG production unit, the Aix-Marseille-Provence metropolitan area pursues its ambition to generate green, eco-friendly energy. What’s more, this initiative aligns with a circular economy approach since it enables the recovery of waste which is transformed into a rare source of energy, both for our region and its residents. At present, one of our top priorities is to produce energy within our region, while protecting our environment and planet, said Martine Vassal, Chair of Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis,

Gas-to-grid distribution

The WAGABOX unit will produce 188,000 MMBtu (55 GWh) of RNG per year, equivalent to the consumption of around 9,000 local homes.

Its commissioning will avoid the emission of approximately 15,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂eq) annually by reducing the use of fossil-based natural gas.

The RNG production will be directly injected into the local gas pipeline network and sold by Waga Energy to an energy utility, under a Renewable Natural Gas purchase agreement signed through to March 2043.

In addition, the energy utility will purchase the “Certificats de Production de Biogaz” (CPB) – biogas production certificates – issued in France under a new scheme to support RNG production, which was introduced under France’s Climate and Resilience Act of 2021.

Revenues made through the sale of RNG and BPCs will be shared between Waga Energy and the Aix-Marseille-Provence metropolitan area.

Furthermore, Waga Energy will also take over the operation of the landfill gas collection network at the Arbois Landfill as well as the three gas engines that currently valorize it by generating electricity from March 2025.

Replacing these engines with the WAGABOX unit will subsequently enable an increase in energy production as well as the supply of local, renewable energy which can be easily stored and transported with existing gas infrastructure.

It is a great honor for us to have been chosen by the Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis to carry out this ambitious RNG injection project at the Arbois Landfill site. By coupling the WAGABOX® unit with a photovoltaic power plant, we continue to innovate in the fight against climate change, enhancing the energy autonomy and environmental performance of our facilities. Thanks to this pioneering project, the local residents will be able to consume significant volumes of renewable gas produced locally from their own waste, said Mathieu Lefebvre, Chair and CEO of Waga Energy.