SUEZ launches Digelis FoodWaste, a biowaste preparation technology combining water and energy efficiency
- The Digelis FoodWaste technology for pre-treating biowaste by anaerobic digestion, developed by SUEZ, complements existing biowaste treatment processes.
- This innovative solution improves the energy efficiency of anaerobic digestion – by generating up to 5% more biogas – and enhances the agronomic quality of the digestate, while reducing the water and energy required for the process.
- As a modular technology that can be integrated into existing anaerobic digestion facilities, Digelis FoodWaste is now being demonstrated at semi-industrial scale at the Meta-Bio-Energies site in Ombrée d’Anjou (Maine-et-Loire). Ultimately, it will treat up to 2,000 tonnes of biowaste per year.
Meeting the challenge of recovering biowaste
In France, nearly 9.7 million tonnes of food waste were generated in 2023 (excluding agricultural residues). Since 1 January 2024, the generalisation of sorting biowaste at source for businesses and local authorities has increased biowaste flows and the associated need for treatment and recovery solutions. The anaerobic digestion of biowaste involves water-intensive pre-treatment stages: depackaging to remove packaging and other impurities, and sanitisation to avoid the proliferation of possible pathogens.
The Digelis FoodWaste process takes advantage of the composition of biowaste, which contains about 60% water, to reduce the water consumption required for the preparation phase. Thus, this process takes place in three stages, before anaerobic digestion:
- Depackaging: shredding of biowaste into pieces larger than 5 cm to make the organic matter accessible;
- Biological digestion: accelerated fermentation in a reactor heated to 55 °C, promoting the release of water naturally contained in the waste and its sanitisation;
- Mechanical separation: separation of inert impurities from the organic matter.
The biowaste is then recovered through a conventional anaerobic digestion plant.
Preserving water resources and producing more renewable energy
By using the water already present in the biowaste, Digelis FoodWaste drastically reduces water consumption during pre-treatment stages. The first results also confirm significant environmental and energy benefits:
- Up to 5% more biogas produced
- Up to 40% drop in digestate volume
- More concentrated digestate of higher agronomic quality
- No additional water required
France’s first semi-industrial demonstrator in operation
The result of 10 years of research and development, the Digelis FoodWaste demonstrator has been operating since January 2026 at the Meta-Bio-Energies anaerobic digestion site operated by SUEZ in Ombrée d'Anjou (Maine-et-Loire department). Ultimately, it will treat up to 2,000 tonnes of biowaste per year.
The development of this new technology is part of SUEZ's innovation strategy, which aims to deliver concrete solutions for the benefit of local authorities through the preservation of water resources, the circular recovery of waste, and the development of renewable and low-carbon energy.
With Digelis FoodWaste, SUEZ provides a complementary more efficient and sober solution to anaerobic digestion, to address the growing volumes of biowaste, resulting from the generalisation of sorting at source separation under the AGEC law in 2024. This technology prepares biowaste to improve the energy and environmental performance of anaerobic digestion. The installation of this first Digelis FoodWaste demonstrator in Ombrée d'Anjou marks a new milestone in our strategy to develop anaerobic digestion, built on 40 years of expertise in the construction and operation of sludge and waste anaerobic digestion plants.Jérôme Bailly , SVP Innovation
SUEZ, a leading player in anaerobic digestion for the energy transition of local authorities
- 0.3 Mt of biowaste recovered in France (anaerobic digestion and composting) in 2025;
- 1.7 Mt of sludge and green waste recovered in France (composting, landspreading) in 2025;
- 12 anaerobic digestion plants operated by the Group capable of treating 400,000 tonnes of waste per year;
- 10 depackaging units for a total capacity of 150,000 tonnes per year.
By 2030, the Group aims to double its anaerobic digestion plants.