Sofidel continues its commitment to decarbonization by bringing a new biomass boiler into operation at its Sofidel France facility in Frouard, in the Grand Est region of France. 

 

Supported by ADEME (Agence de la Transition Écologique) under the BCIAT 2022 program (Biomasse Chaleur Industrie, Agriculture et Tertiaire), the new boiler will generate steam currently generated using natural gas, enabling an estimated annual reduction of 9,100 metric tons of CO2 emissions. 

 

A biomass boiler has already been in operation at the Frouard site since 2014. Together, the two boiler units will cover 95% of the steam required to heat the drying cylinders of the plant’s two paper machines. Natural gas will be used only during peak demand periods and as backup, accounting for approximately 5% of the total demand. 

 

“For Sofidel, the journey toward decarbonization is not only a regulatory requirement, but a clear industrial choice. In France, biomass represents a valuable resource, in which we have invested and will continue to invest,” said Luigi Lazzareschi, Sofidel Group CEO. 

 

The activation of the new boiler comes just days after the finalization of an expansion plan for the Group’s facility in Inola, Oklahoma, in the U.S. 

 

The investment in France is part of Sofidel’s broader decarbonization strategy, focused on increasing the use of energy from renewable sources through a multi-option approach tailored to the climate, infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks of the countries in which the Group operates. 

 

For Sofidel, sustainability is a strategic development lever closely linked to the innovation of production processes, products and logistics, supporting new growth opportunities and continuous improvement while reducing the impact of business activities on natural capital.