A landmark day for agricultural anaerobic digestion inArdèche
On April 10th, 2025, Methagora reached a major milestone with the official inauguration of the Ardoix Hub in the north of the Ardèche department. This is the first gas hub in France, a model that embodies innovation for the agricultural anaerobic digestion sector. The goal is clear: to pool the production of biomethane from several sites, whether they can or not be connected to the gas network, thanks to a common injection site.
The Hub's units were originally CHP units, meaning they produced both electricity and heat. The virtual pipeline model made it possible to convert them into injection units.
Methagora financed the on-site equipment (purifier, compressor, pressure reduction and injection station) and provided its technical expertise for transport and its legal expertise for the biomethane commercialization.
Together, the 5 linked units produce more than 30 GWh ofre newable gas per year, equivalent to the consumption of 7,500new homes, which is equivalent to the total energy needs of the homes of the neighbouring town of Annonay.
This grand opening marks the realization of a model that combines technical, logistical, legal, and financial expertise and highlights the value of regional cooperation in the energy transition.
The Ardoix Hub: a unique cooperative model for biomethane production
Commissioned in November 2024, the Ardoix Hub is a concrete illustration of the Methagora model, aggregating the production of five anaerobic digestion units certified according to the European REDII directive:
(Renewable Energy Directive II).
This certification, issued as part of the European sustainability scheme, attests in particular to the reduction of at least 70% of the greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil gas, as well as compliance with criteria relating to the land andraw materials used (sustainable plots, circular economy, etc.).
Satellite sites:
- Agritexia 1 (07 - Cheminas)
- Métha CN (26 - Hauterives),
- Méthadaines (74 - Frangy),
- La Limone (38 - Saint-Romain-de-Surieu).
Thanks to the installation of specific equipment (purifiers, compressors), green gas injection has been made possible using virtual pipeline. Biomethane is compressed in tanks, which are then transported by road to an injection point.
The central site:
- Agritexia 2 (07 - Ardoix).
The unit was, as well as satellites, an electricity production unit, transforming raw biogas via CHP system. It was converted into direct biomethane injection plant, thanks to new scrubbing equipments installation. It enabled the site to double its turnover !
But the plant also has a second use now : it receives the biomethane from the satellites, expands it, and injects it into the gas network.
Thanks to this organization, the Hub optimizes the energy efficiency of existing units and allows operators to benefit from the advantages of injection, while creating local synergies between several agricultural sites. Individual production is thus transformed into an integrated and efficient network.
The Ardoix Hub is the first concrete example of a Methagora Hub, proving that biomethane is a viable solution for the sector in France.
An inauguration rich in exchanges and discoveries
More than a hundred participants gathered to celebrate this event: farmers, project leaders, financial partners, public institutions, and energy sector players.
The day featured an immersive guided tour entitled "Inthe footsteps of virtual pipeline," which provided an understanding of:
- The inputs and their treatment,
- How anaerobic digestion works,
- Digestate storage,
- The CHP room
- Biogas upgrading into biomethane,
- Compression, expansion, and transport by tanker,
- Final injection into the network.
This experience gave participants a concrete understanding of how the Hub works.
A showcase for the future of the biomethane sector
The Ardoix Hub is not an isolated project: it illustrates the Methagora model's capacity to be deployed throughout France, enabling other regions and anaerobic digestion sites to benefit from the advantages of green gas production. This means that non-connectable units can still inject their biomethane into the network, and operator shave better long-term economic visibility and control over their production.
The opening of the Ardoix Hub is a major milestone for Methagora and the biomethane sector. It is a tangible demonstration that innovation in the field of renewable energies can create strong local synergies. It also illustrates how a technical challenge—there moteness of units from the grid—can be transformed into an economic and environmental opportunity.
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