- Local authorities
- Industrie
The SMDO local government association and site operator Idex are opening a third line at their waste-to-energy plant
The waste-to-energy plant in Villers-Saint-Paul now has a third line, opened by the SMDO local government association for the Oise department and Idex, a leading player in local, low-carbon energy. Representing an investment of over €108 million as part of a 20-year public service contract, the project gives the Oise department a state-of-the-art facility, allowing it to manage its household waste independently and turn it into green, local energy at a competitive price.
Increased processing capacity to achieve zero landfill
Designed to process 80,000 tonnes/year, the third line is dedicated to waste with a high calorific value (bulky items, sorting rejects). It increases the total capacity of the plant to 258,000 tonnes of waste per year. With this extension, the plant is able to recover waste that was previously destined for landfill and process it locally, in compliance with the objectives of the French energy transition act promoting green growth.
Sending waste to landfill is a practice that has to end. This third rail line will allow us to turn more waste into energy, while planning for the future through innovative solutions contributing to greater sustainability at regional level. Today, the elected representatives of the Oise department can be proud of what they have achieved. The SMDO is an independent association, driving synergies between local authorities, housing associations (Oise Habitat) and industrial players. With these three lines, we are able to process 258,500 tonnes of waste per year – produced by the 790,265 inhabitants of the area covered by SMDO – and recover the energy locally in the form of steam, heat or electricity. The facility is robust and compliant with the latest standards. Also, the flue gas treatment system meets the highest standards of efficiency.
Significantly higher energy production for local residents and industry
Modernising the site and installing a second turbine-generator of almost 10 MW has radically increased energy output, with the production of thermal energy rising by 230% and electrical energy by 233% compared with 2020. The district heating network in the municipalities of Nogent-sur-Oise, Montataire, Creil and Villers-Saint-Paul will benefit directly from this energy, which will supply over 13,500 homes at a guaranteed and exceptionally low rate. At the same time, the SMDO has been able to stabilise the cost of waste treatment for the next 20 years.
A multimodal infrastructure built for the future
The project also brings major developments in the logistics organisation, with the creation of a third rail line. The aim is to encourage the use of alternatives to road transport for the shipment of waste and bottom ash, thereby reducing the overall carbon footprint of this activity
With the opening of this third line, the region is turning constraints into opportunities, making its vision a reality. Villers-Saint-Paul is gaining a true regional energy hub, turning waste into a strategic resource, generating environmental, economic and social benefits for the area and its inhabitants. This project also reflects the vision of Idex: local infrastructures, based on the circular economy, showing that the energy transition is already a reality for both municipalities and local communities.
