Your access to the energy network

NaTran provides you with biomethane and low carbon gas mapping to help you locate your project on its transmission network. Connection to the transmission network consists in making available the connection facilities required to inject biomethane or low carbon gas* into this network. These connection facilities comprise a pipeline connection and an injection station.

As part of the right to injection, for any new request for a biomethane connection study, network operators carry out (or update) a study of the area in which your project is located. This study first determines the network operator (transmission or distribution) that will support your project. Secondly, it enables the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) to validate the connection and injection conditions applicable to your project.

This step is initiated upon signature of the feasibility study agreement.

For any new connection, two types of projects are defined: so called “base case” projects and “other case” projects, which take into account specific requirements.

* The current regulatory framework is aimed specifically at producers of biomethane, i.e. gas produced from biomass (in particular by anaerobic digestion) or non-hazardous waste storage facilities (ISDND). Please contact us to enquire about connecting your pyrogasification, hydrothermal gasification or hydrogen production project, please contact us.

Connection information 

Based on your preliminary statement of requirements, NaTran carries out preliminary studies and provides you with initial information on the connection solution. This study is provided free of charge and without commitment. It enables you to obtain indicative cost estimates and an indicative timetable for your connection project.
This step is optional.

Connection Studies 

Connection studies comprise feasibility studies and basic (preliminary) design studies. Upon completion of these studies, NaTran provides you with a connection offer.
In certain situations, this step may be carried out in a single phase.
Your project is entered into the capacity management register upon receipt of the signed feasibility study agreement.

The Connection and Injection Agreement formalizes a 15 year commitment starting from the commissioning of the connection facilities and covers:

• the construction phase of the connection facilities and the commissioning/start up phase of the installations;
• the relationship between NaTran and yourself throughout the lifetime of the connection facilities, including operation and maintenance of the facilities, as well as injection conditions (injection pressure, maximum hourly flow rate, etc.).

The agreement comprises:

• General terms and conditions, applicable to all connection and injection agreements;
• Specific terms and conditions, which set out the elements specific to your agreement, such as the characteristics of the pipeline connection and the injection station, the gas in date of the facilities, the conditions for injecting biomethane and low carbon gas into the transmission network, and the pricing of the associated services;
• A technical specification, setting out technical requirements relating to certain obligations of the producer (power supply, civil works, etc.).

A Start up Agreement will be proposed alongside the Connection and Injection Agreement.
This agreement clarifies the respective roles and responsibilities of each party during this phase, in particular with regard to the exchange of information on biomethane and low carbon gas injection conditions during the commissioning phase of the connection facilities.

Following the obtainment of construction and operating authorizations, NaTran constructs the connection facilities and carries out their gas commissioning. These facilities consist of a pipeline connection and an injection station.

>>> Inject your biomethane in the transport network (FR only)

Pursuant to Articles L.111 19 and L.111 48 of the French Energy Code, NaTran is the owner of the connection facilities.

The Order of 2 March 2022 on the level of cost coverage for connections to the natural gas transmission network for biogas production facilities, issued pursuant to Article L.452 1 of the Energy Code, introduces a connection cost rebate of 60% of the cost of the connection facilities for biomethane or low carbon gas injection projects connected to the transmission network, up to a maximum of €600,000.

The pipeline connection consists of two sections: 

• the upstream connection, which links the upstream side of the injection station inlet valve to the injection station;
• the downstream connection, which links the injection station to the gas transmission network.

The tariff for constructing the pipeline connection is flat rate in the “base case” and quotation based in the “other cases”.

The injection station provides the following functions:

• energy metering of the injected biomethane or low carbon gas;
• odorization;
• measurement of the physico chemical characteristics of the biomethane or low carbon gas and verification of compliance with NaTran’s technical specifications;
• operational safety.

The construction tariff for the injection station includes:

• on site installation and assembly of the injection station;
• installation of biomethane or low carbon gas quality monitoring equipment (chromatographs) and remotely read transactional metering equipment.

The construction cost of the injection station is flat rate in the “base case” and quotation based in the “other cases”.