Inauguration of the first reverse-flow facility in the Manche department in Saint-James
The first reverse flow facility in the Manche department was officially opened in Saint-James on September 5th, 2025. Jean-Claude Braud, President of the Manche Departmental Energy Syndicate (SDEM50), Vincent Jean-Baptiste representing the Renewable Energy Syndicate (SER) in Normandy, David Juquin, Mayor of the new municipality of Saint-James, and Pierre Monin, Val de Seine Regional Representative for NaTran, attended this official opening, which affirms the commitment of the department and the stakeholders involved in the development of renewable energies.
An innovative facility for the development of renewable gases.
The reverse flow facility allows local biomethane production surplus to be redirected from the local distribution network to NaTran's national transport network, especially during the summer, so that it can be transfered to other consumption areas or accessed for storage for future needs.
The Saint-James reverse flow facility allows 90 GWH of locally produced renewable gas to be injected into the transport network, i.e. more than 20,000* new homes, or more than 500 buses running on BioNGV with a renewable gas content of 27.5%.
This innovative tool was made possible thanks to an investment of €2.9 millions from NaTran.
*Consumption basis: 4 MWh per housing, corresponding to the consumption of a new housing.
**Consumption basis: 250 MWh/year.
"Saint-James’ reverse-flow station is much more than just a technical facility: it is a symbol of the local energy transition. It is a collective success. It owes a great deal to the mobilisation of farmers, elected officials, NaTran, GRDF, and institutional and technical partners"Jean-Claude Braud
President of SDEM50
Several methanisation projects benefit from the Manche reverse-flow facility
Four biomethane production units benefit from the Saint-James reserve-flow facility, located in Pontorson, La Bazoge, La Ferré and Saint-James.
Methanisation is a process that produces biomethane, a 100% renewable gas, from the fermentation of organic matter from agricultural by-products and waste. After being purified, it can be injected into gas networks to be used in the same way as natural gas (heating, cooking, industry, etc.) or to promote carbon-free mobility by using it as fuel for vehicles and heavy goods vehicles. This 100% renewable fuel is called bioNGV.
In addition to 100% renewable and local energy, the methanisation process generates digestate, a residue that can be used as organic fertiliser, reducing the need for synthetic chemical fertilisers.
“A plant like the Saint-James reverse-flow facility is key to support the development of renewable gas, i.e. biomethane, and to help our country become a gas producer once again”Pierre Monin
Val de Seine Regional Representative for NaTran
Normandy, a region conducive to the development of renewable gases, France's leading region in terms of number of reverse-flow facilities
The Normandy region has 64 methanisation units, representing 1.3 TWh of production capacity, equivalent to the consumption of more than 300,000 homes*. 136 biomethane production projects are registered in the capacity register (+15% by the end of 2023).
Lower Normandy is experiencing significant growth in the number of active biogas plants: Argentan (61), La Ferté-Macé (61), Ceton (61), Mandres (27) and Saint-James (50). The region's agricultural resources, combined with the distribution network, make it an ideal location for the development of methanisation. The deployment of reverse-flow facilities meets the development of renewable gases.
Several other reverse-flow stations are planned in the region
- Four reverse-flow facilities are under construction in the Manche and the Orne departments: Coutances (50), Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcouët (50), Alençon (61) and Le Pin-la-Garenne (61).
- Three reverse-flow facilities are under consideration: Nassandres-sur-Risle (27), Sainte-Cécile (50) and Fécamp (76).
- Several other reverse-flow facilities are undergoing feasibility studies with potential commissioning in 2027/2028.
