Our commitment to biomethane goes beyond solely developing new production projects. ENGIE's commercialization division, GEMS (Global Energy Management & Sales), plays a pivotal role by purchasing volumes produced by the Group and other actors, then reselling them to clients. These clients fall into two categories: “internal clients within the Group, such as our combined-cycle gas plants, and external clients - local authorities and industrial players from various sectors,” explains Aurélie Boscarolo, Business Developer at GEMS.
A Wide Array of Decarbonized Solutions
As the leading B2B biomethane supplier in France, GEMS acquired around 3.3 TWh from producers in 2022. Its target for 2030 is ambitious: to commercialize 30 TWh annually, i.e., about 8% of the volumes expected to be purchased and sold across the continent. “The projected trajectory in biomethane aligns with our ambition to provide a diverse range of decarbonized solutions. Each solution has its unique attributes, so we’ll need to mobilize several options – including methanization, pyrogasification, renewable or low-carbon hydrogen and its derivatives – to meet the needs of our clients,” emphasizes Carine Chrétien, Co-Leader of Transversal Business Green Gases at GEMS.
Securing Customer Supply
Today, GEMS collaborates with 450 producers in France, Belgium, Spain, Italy, and the UK. They have also recently signed several long-term contracts outside of France for biomethane procurement. On the sales front, supply contracts are also being extended. For instance, GEMS and Arkema have agreed on the delivery of 3 TWh over ten years. “This trend, of which we are pioneers in France, allows us to contribute as effectively as possible to biomethane supply security for our clients,” notes Aurélie Boscarolo. “Thanks to our expertise in managing volume and price risks, especially between upstream and downstream sectors, we are able to react quickly and meet client demands.”
New Projects on the Horizon
GEMS also promotes the biomethane sector within the Group. “Among our long-standing clients, some own land or produce organic waste that could be harnessed for production unit projects,” claims Carine Chrétien. “Our close relationships with various stakeholders and our market knowledge are real advantages. We are well-positioned to connect them with our Infrastructure counterparts, who oversee such projects.” A shining example of synergy between upstream and downstream operations!