Antoine Meffre was on hand alongside Laurent Santarelli, plant manager at Villeroy & Boch ‘s Valence d’Agen factory, to take part in a round-table discussion as part of La Région Occitanie ‘s commitment to decarbonizing industry.
At the Valence d’Agen plant, now that the first 3 stages of decarbonization have been implemented (sobriety, efficiency, recovery), there remains the 4th, which consists of replacing the fossil fuels used in the baking oven with heat (hot air, oxygen, hydrogen) derived from the conversion of low-carbon electricity: an innovative project, very probably the only one of its kind in the world.
To make this project a success, 4 building blocks are needed:
1- A need expressed by a motivated manufacturer
2- Relevant technical solutions
3- Financial solutions
4- Public support
With the first actions carried out at the Villeroy & Boch plant, we have provided concrete proof that it is possible to decarbonize industry sustainably and profitably, at no cost to the manufacturer.
The initial results speak for themselves: over 40% energy savings and a reduction in emissions of 1,500 tonnes of CO2!
Christophe Béchu, Minister for Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion, and Dominique Faure, Minister Delegate for Territorial Collectivities and Rurality, opened the Occitanie COP.
France is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. To give concrete expression to this commitment, Emmanuel Macron has initiated a green planning process covering various sectors, including industry.
These “territorial COPs” are the implementation of the ecological transition initiated at national level, with concrete deployment in the regions.
The Occitanie COP was also attended by Carole Delga, President of La Région Occitanie / Pyrénées-Méditerranée, Agnès Langevine Vice-President of La Région Occitanie / Pyrénées-Méditerranée, Jean-Luc Moudenc Mayor of Toulouse, Céline Vachey, Regional Director ofADEME, Antoine Peillon General Secretary for Ecological Planning.
