A biomass co-generation power plant has been created at Vielle-Saint-Girons by a company called DRT.
DRT is a supplier of rosin and turpentine-based products to the rubber industry.
The biomass power plant is operated by Biomass Energy Solutions VSG, a newly created company involving DRT, Cofely (GDF SUEZ Group) and the Caisse des Dépôts.
The co-generation unit is intended as a substitute for fossil fuels by using by-products obtained from the distillation of tall oil, said Eric Moussu, sales and marketing director at DRT.
The plant is designed to use 150 kilotons per year of biomass: generating 97 GWh of power, 214 GWh of steam and saving 20kt of CO2. Efficiency is said to be better than 65 %, compared to 35 % for a conventional power plant.
The project will also create 15 jobs on site and contribute US$9.7 million per year to the local wood energy industry, according to the French company.
Established in 1932, DRT specializes in the development of rosin and turpentine extracted from pine resin for the perfume, adhesive, rubber, chewing gum and food supplement industries, among others.