As part of a low-carbon trajectory contributing to collective carbon neutrality, Gecina has been integrating biogas into the gas supply of its buildings since 2019, with this share rising from 10 to 60% between 2019 and 2021 and increasing to 100% of supply in 2024.
Main project's drivers for reducing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
Energy and resource efficiency
Energy Decarbonisation
Energy efficiency improvements
Improving efficiency in non-energy resources
Emission removal
Financing low-carbon issuers or disinvestment from carbon assets
Reduction of other greenhouse gases emission
Project objectives
This renewable energy purchasing strategy is driven by three goals:
• to reduce the supply of fossil fuels in favor of a renewable, low-carbon energy resource(5 times less carbon intensive than conventional gas), produced in France;
• to extend the circular economy approach by purchasing energy from waste recovery;
• to support a business that generates further income for French agricultural activity.
To ensure these goals are met, Gecina has examined the recommendations of expert studies on the development of the biogas sector in France and has incorporated them into its supply contracts in the form of specific, verifiable clauses.
Since 2019 Gecina has been integrating biogas into the gas supply of its buildings, this share has increased from 10 to 60% between 2019 and 2021 and will be increased to 100% of the supply in 2024.
In real terms, the biogas purchased by Gecina will be produced in the Île-de-France region and will come from the recovery of agricultural waste and fallow crops which help soil regeneration. The biogas plants used for its production were developed between 2018 and 2019 with the support of local elected officials and the assurance that no nuisance was generated for local residents. Lastly, these biogas plants were developed without any additional land artificialization and will be subject to regular checks to reduce exposure to the risk of environmental accidents. These qualitative guarantees will be monitored via a prerequisite developed by Gecina during negotiations for its gas supply contract: the identification in the contract of the biogas plants from which the guarantees of origin will come, supplied to Gecina for the length of the contract.
The traceability of the biogas supplied meant Gecina could secure buy-in from its teams to ensure compliance with the responsible purchasing criteria set, in particular by contacting local stakeholders.
In identifying biogas plant partners, Gecina is also consistent with its strategy of helping suppliers to improve their environmental performance. This is achieved primarily through the supplier’s commitment to audit the carbon footprint of the biogas supplied, ensuring that the carbon footprint it provides is better than the market average.
Emission scope(s)
on which the project has a significant impact
Scope 1
Direct emissions generated by the company's activity.
Scope 2
Indirect emissions associated with the company's electricity and heat consumption.
Scope 3
Emissions induced (upstream or downstream) by the company's activities, products and/or services in its value chain.
Emission Removal
Carbon sinks creation, (BECCS, CCU/S, …)
Avoided Emissions
Emissions avoided by the activities, products and/or services in charge of the project, or by the financing of emission reduction projects.
Scope 1 : Supply of biogas up to:
10% in 2019
20% in 2020
60% in 2021
Quantification :
-984 tCO2 in 2019
-1640 tCO2 in 2020
-5130 tCO2 in 2021
Avoided Emissions : Emissions avoided by farmers activities
Quantification : 720 tCO2/year from 2021
The gas supply of Gecina’s buildings represents 6500 MWh/year on average.
The emission factor of natural gas is 214 gCO2/KWh and that of biogas is 39.5gCO2/KWh. Considering the share of biogas in the total supply (60% in 2021), the emission reductions are obtained.
Furthermore, the production of biogas from agricultural inputs avoids the emissions induced by their storage in the open air by farmers. It can be estimated that the emission of 110 gCO2/kWh is avoided by farmers, i.e. nearly 720 tCO2 in 2021.
Key points
Invested amount
The amount depends on the extra cost of biogas supply and the end of financial compensations, this extra cost is estimated at 5€/MWh.
Starting date of the project
Contract signed in 2018 on gas supply from 2019.
Project localisation
Biogas produced in France
Buildings supplied in France
Project maturity level
Prototype laboratory test (TRL 7)
Real life testing (TRL 7-8)
Pre-commercial prototype (TRL 9)
Small-scale implementation
Medium to large scale implementation
Il 2021, 60% of the gas supply is biogas, and this share will be gradually increased to 100% in 2024. This supply concerns 100% of the buildings for which Gecina controls the energy supply
Economic profitability of the project (ROI)
Short term (0-3 years)
Middle term (4-10 years)
Long term (> 10 years)
Illustrations of the project
Among the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, this project aims to achieve:
- SDG 7 Use of renewable energy: 100% biogas supply by 2024
- SDG 9 Innovation, industry, infrastructure: Development of partnerships with new biogas plants
- SDG 11 Sustainable cities and communities: Development of sustainable energy supply to cities and partnerships with biogas plants supported by local politicians
- SDG 12 Responsible consumption and production: Development of sustainable energy supply to cities and partnerships with biogas plants with the assurance that no nuisance has been generated for local residents and without additional land artificialisation
In 2021, the supply of biogas already represents 60% of the gas supply of 100% of the buildings for which Gecina manages the energy supply and will be gradually increased to 100% in 2024.
The project is carried out within a client-supplier framework as part of a strategy to support suppliers in improving their environmental performance.
Contact the company carrying the project
mathilderamos-guerrero@gecina.fr
