High yield cogeneration: Biomass, a source of energy

At Biganos in the Gironde, Dalkia and Smurfit Kappa, the world leader in paper packaging, have got together to create France’s largest biomass cogeneration plant.

A 40-metre high boiler produces high-pressure steam, which feeds into 2 turbo alternators which generate electricity for sale to EDF. Smurfit uses the low-pressure steam which is produced downstream of the installation to dry paper at its plant. The boiler is fuelled by 503,000 tonnes of biomass per year, which comes from the waste residue from the factory and also from branches or waste wood from the surrounding forests.

The installation has led to the creation of more than 90 jobs, both on the site of the cogeneration plant and to set up a biofuel supply chain. Using this renewable energy source has reduced CO₂ emissions by 200,000 tonnes a year.