Port of Bordeaux Hosts an Anaerobic Digestion Facility at the Heart of Its Industrial Port Area

Grand Port Maritime de Bordeaux, a Green Marine Europe participant, inaugurated a local anaerobic digestion facility alongside CVE Biogaz on 8 September, located at the heart of the Bassens industrial port area. Commissioned in January 2026, the facility transforms locally sourced organic materials into biomethane and organic fertiliser.

A Local Circular Model Connecting Port Activities, Energy and Agriculture

Located on 2.8 hectares of land made available by the Port, the CVE Port de Bordeaux facility can process up to 25,000 tonnes of organic materials per year. These materials are collected within an average radius of 20 to 25 kilometres and come from sources including the catering and retail sectors, the food industry, as well as industrial and port activities.

According to project data, around 40% of the facility’s feedstock is directly linked to activities within the port area.

After preparation, the organic materials are fed into digesters to produce biogas, which is then upgraded into biomethane. The facility has an expected annual production capacity of 32 GWh, equivalent to the annual gas consumption of around 2,600 households. The biomethane is injected directly into the local gas network operated by Régaz-Bordeaux.

The process also produces digestate, which is used as an organic fertiliser by partner farms in the region. Around 1,200 hectares of agricultural land could benefit from it each year.

The Port as a Testing Ground for the Transition

The project originated from a call for expressions of interest launched in 2018 as part of the “Port à Énergie et à Économie Positives” (PEEPOS) program. It represents an investment of €23.8 million. Grand Port Maritime de Bordeaux holds a 10% stake in the project alongside CVE.

The facility illustrates the role that port areas can play in developing new local value chains by connecting waste management, renewable energy production, industrial activities and agriculture.

According to estimates provided by the project partners, the facility is expected to avoid more than 11,200 tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year.

Copyright : GPMB