Case Story France

Upgrading Landfill Gas into Biomethane

December 2024

More than 2.1 billion tons of waste are produced annually1, a figure expected to almost double by 2050 according to the UN Environment Program. Amid this global waste challenge, Waga Energy is addressing the problem of fugitive landfill gas emissions with its innovative WAGABOX® technology. Even in developed countries, a significant portion of waste ends up in landfills—40% in France, for example. Once landfilled, organic matter undergoes anaerobic digestion, producing a methane-rich gas. While some of this gas is flared to reduce emissions, a considerable portion escapes into the atmosphere, contributing to approximately 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Methane, with a global warming potential 28 times higher than CO₂ over a 100-year period, underscores the critical need to address emissions from landfill sites.

Despite its potential as a renewable energy source, only a few landfill sites upgrade landfill gas into biomethane, also known as renewable natural gas (RNG). Existing technologies for methane separation are often complex, costly, and inefficient, resulting in limited adoption. Waga Energy, leveraging over a decade of R&D and its innovative WAGABOX® technology, has addressed these challenges, transforming landfill gas into highquality biomethane. This fact sheet highlights the WAGABOX® technology, its international deployment, and the lessons learned from key case studies.