Biomass press kit

This dossier presents some examples of French factories equipped with methanation and biogas production facilities, a good mean to save energy but which still encounters many financial and technical difficulties: high investments, safety constraints. A first article presents the vinasse depollution plant of Revico company which uses Cognac distillation effluents to generate heat and electricity. A second article treats of the valorization of forestry wastes. Forests represent 28% of the French territory (15 million Ha) but only 60% of the biologic growth is exploited. The main problem is the important dividing up of the French forests with a multitude of private owners and a difficult access to plots. (J.S.)