As part of the METHAREN project, we interviewed M. Xavier Millerand, leader of work package 1, and Project Manager at Technip Energies France.
Background
Q.: Could you share your professional journey up to the METHAREN project?
M. Xavier Millerand: In the first part of my career, I worked as a geotechnical engineer and for the past fifteen years I have been managing projects in various fields ranging from mining to energy transition. In METHAREN, I represent the Paris Operating Center of Technip Energies. Technip Energies is a leading Engineering & Technology company for the energy transition, with leadership positions in liquefied natural gas, hydrogen and ethylene.
Role in the project
Q.: Could you share the main aims of the work you are leading in METHAREN?
M. Xavier Millerand: In METHAREN, I am leading the very first work package (WP), i.e. WP1 – Specification and basic engineering of the biomethane production system. This WP aims to carry out the preliminary design of the integrated biomethane production system and to define the requirements and specifications of the different technological bricks of the system for their development in the other WPs. Furthermore, as part of WP7, I am in charge of the creation of an Industrial Cluster Board (ICB) to promote the industrial boom of METHAREN. My mission is to lead the ICB until the end of the project by organising meetings and events where board members can share their constraints and needs to decarbonise their industry and keep up to date with our developments on the project.
Progress and Challenges
Q.: What is the progress achieved so far for WP1?
M. Xavier Millerand: WP1 was completed as scheduled in the first months of the project, in July, 2023. We provided the project management procedures and developed the detailed project schedule. Under WP1, we developed a set of preliminary technical documents in two phases called Conceptual engineering and Basic engineering of the entire production system.
Aditionally, as part of WP1, the other partners GazoTech, CEA and EPFL laid the foundations for their respective WPs by initiating early activities including feedstock characterisation, specification and fabrication of a small-scale methanation reactor for laboratory testing, and definition of Energy Management System requirements.
Q.: Have you encountered any challenges along the way?
M. Xavier Millerand: METHAREN is led by Technip Energies with our three entities involved in the project: Netherlands (TEN-NL), France (TEN-P) and Italy (TEN-R). TEN-NL ensures the administrative coordination of the project and relations with the granting authorities, while TEN-P and TEN-R ensure the technical and operational coordination of the project. Thanks to this organisation and the great work done by all partners so far, remarkable results have already been achieved in this project.
The WP1 activities went smoothly without any major difficulties. Of course, it took some time for the consortium members to learn to work together as we all come from very different backgrounds, but this is normal for this type of collaborative project.
Next steps
Q.: What are the next activities planned for you and for TEN-P overall in METHAREN?
M. Xavier Millerand: In 2025, TEN-P will be particularly involved in the launch of two new tasks:
– The techno-economic assessment of the system (leader TEN-P);
– The market analysis and design of business models for biomethane production system (lead by Lomartov).
Furthermore, we will continue to ensure the operational management of the project in collaboration with TEN-R and to lead the ICB.