Exclusive in France: Butagaz and Global Bioenergies present the first bottles of bio-sourced gas
23.01.2019
The supply of this bio-sourced gas, which will be distributed for the first time in France in an Intermarché point of sale, is a first and decisive step towards furthering the aim of contributing to meeting France’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction target by driving innovation. Incorporating bio-isobutene in Butagaz’s butane and propane gas bottles reduces CO2 emissions by up to 40%* over the entire life cycle of the bottled gas. Butagaz, a leading French multi-energy company, distributes natural gas, electricity, wood pellets, as well as — naturally — propane and butane gas (these gases are amongst the cleanest forms of fossil fuel**). To achieve its aim of reducing the carbon footprint of its propane and butane value chains even further, the Butagaz group signed an exclusive partnership deal in France with Global Bioenergies (see press release dated 16 January 2017), a pioneering French company developing a process to convert renewable resources, such as sugar beet, into hydrocarbons through fermentation. Butagaz is contributing financially to Global Bioenergies’ industrial development in return for reserved batches of bio-isobutene, whose physical and chemical properties are close to those of butane and propane. Less than one year old, the partnership has already yielded its initial fruits with the first gas bottles containing between 10 and 15% bio-isobutene. A remarkable first! These batches of bio-isobutene were produced by Global Bioenergies’ demo plant at Leuna in Germany. A first in our innovation drive to help meet national goals “A few months ago we reached a major milestone in our multi-energy diversification strategy by distributing natural gas, electricity and wood pellets to individual households. I had said that this was only the beginning. I feel a great sense of pride today in introducing an innovation that combines cutting-edge technologies and our long-standing expertise. This exclusive offer of bio-sourced gas can significantly reduce CO2 emissions throughout the gas life cycle, from production through to sale”, explained Emmanuel Trivin, Chairman of Butagaz. “This is a new and strategic step towards achieving our joint aim of offering a choice of energy solutions to French consumers in the future to help them further reduce their carbon footprint. With our demo plant operational, we can now reach consumers directly for the first time. This latest development is another step forward in building up the commercial ecosystem of IBN-One, our future first full-scale plant”, said Marc Delcourt, CEO of Global Bioenergies. This breakthrough is only the beginning. In the long term, Butagaz will have the potential to purchase large quantities of “made in France” bio-isobutene when the first Global Bioenergies’ plant comes on stream at a sugar producer Cristal Union’s site in Champagne. This bio-isobutene can then be incorporated in Butagaz’s bottles or tanks of butane and propane, generating CO2 savings of up to 40%* on a large scale throughout the gas life cycle. Butagaz and Global Bioenergies extend their sincere gratitude to Intermarché which joined the partnership to supply the first bottles containing the bio-sourced gas at its Benfeld point-of-sale in Alsace. *During the commercial production stage, according to the Life Cycle Assessment conducted by EVEA, currently under critical review (report due in the first half of 2018)) ** — Atmospheric emissions from biomass combustion, French Environment and Energy Management Agency, ADEME, 19 July 2007 Quelle: Global Bioenergies and Butagaz, press release, 23.01.2019