Heat accounts for 45% of the total energy consumption in France, with a large portion still reliant on fossil fuels. To advance the energy transition and increase energy independence, it is imperative to shift towards renewable heating alternatives. Acknowledging this need, some industrial players are taking proactive steps to reduce emissions and enhance the supply of clean heat to their facilities. A notable example is Lactalis Ingredients, a branch of the Lactalis Group, the biggest dairy company in the world, which has embraced solar thermal solutions for its industrial processes.
The Verdun site, inaugurated on December 8th, 2023, now has the largest solar thermal plant for industrial processes in France, providing renewable heat to Lactalis Ingredients. Two members of Solar Heat Europe played pivotal roles in bringing this project to fruition: Newheat, a project developer with a track record in renewable heat projects since 2015, and Meriaura Energy, a Finnish solar thermal collector manufacturer supplying cutting-edge European technology for large-scale plants.
The event was attended by more than 120 people including the President of Ademe – having co-financed 5°% of the project, and all actors, whether from regional and local institutions, industry, or community having been involved in the project.
The facility relies now on 15,000 square meters of solar thermal collectors strategically installed to supply the drying tower with a capacity of approximately 13 MWth. The solar thermal collector field is linked to a 3,000-square-meter storage tank capable of storing several days’ worth of heat production. This design ensures continuous heat supply, even during nights and cloudy days in the summer, contributing to a significant reduction in gas consumption.
The installation is anticipated to decrease gas consumption for Verdun Tower 4 by 11%, resulting in an overall reduction of the site’s greenhouse gas emissions by 7% (equivalent to 2,000 tons per year). On average, the solar thermal plant will cover 20% to 30% of the drying tower’s heat needs and up to 60% during the summer, with the remaining portion supplemented by gas.
This project aligns with a broader sustainability initiative, as Lactalis plans to install a biomass boiler by 2026, replacing nearly 50% of the current gas consumption with renewable energy. This additional project aims to cut the site’s overall carbon footprint by 50% by 2026.
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From left to right in the photo from the inauguration: Victoria Liénard, EHP; Hugues Defréville, CEO Newheat; Marion Sédéhic, Communication Newehat; Pierre Delmas, Co-Founder and Technical Director Newheat; Valerie Sejourne, Managing Director of Solar Heat Europe
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