Oterra, which specialises in producing colour from natural sources, has installed a 3.5 MW biomass boiler at the Cossé-le-Vivien site in France, which is estimated to reduce CO2e emissions by more than 3,000 tons annually.
The project was successful in the 2020 BCIAT call for projects (Biomass Heat for Industry, Agriculture and Tertiary Sectors), led by The French Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME), receiving a subsidy of approximately €1.8 million.
The company marked the occasion by holding an inauguration ceremony, which was led by Luc Ganivet, general manager of Oterra France, and Hervé PRESA, Pays de la Loire regional director at ENGIE Solutions.
Other distinguished guests included Christophe Langouët, Mayor of Cossé-le-Vivien, and Benoît LaCroix, regional deputy director of ADEME Pays de la Loire.
The biomass boiler effectively covers over 82% of the site's steam requirements with this new biomass boiler setup, and with a new gas steam boiler to provide backup and support.
The new setup has been designed and implemented by ENGIE Solutions.
The 3.5 MW biomass boiler at Oterra's site efficiently utilises wood chip byproducts from woodland and agroforestry residue, sourced from within 150 km of the plant – manifesting Oterra’s commitment to local, renewable energy and sustainable resource management in general.
The biomass boiler's operation and biomass sourcing adhere to BCIAT requirements, ensuring responsible practices with 80% wood chips and 20% wood by-products sourced from local forests, woodlands, and agroforestry residues.
"Our sustainability strategy is intricately linked with our core purpose – making natural food and beverage easy for a sustainable and healthy world. We actively address climate impact as a central part of our strategy, with our targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), confirming our commitment to a 1.5-degree pathway," said Luc Ganivet, general manager of Oterra France.
He added: “Replacing the old fuel boiler with the biomass boiler at the Cossé-le-Vivien site is a significant step forward to reduce Oterra’s direct emissions. This investment is estimated to give us an impressive 25% reduction of our Scope 1 impacts annually, equivalent to removing 700 petrol-powered cars from the roads a full year or planting close to 50,000 tree seedlings and letting them grow for 10 years”.
Hervé PRESA, Pays de la Loire regional director at ENGIE Solutions, stated: "We are honoured to support Oterra in this strategic phase of decarbonisation with a local and sustainable solution, showcasing the expertise of our teams."
Benoît LACROIX, regional deputy director of ADEME Pays de la Loire, added: "The Biomass Heat Industry Agriculture Tertiary (BCIAT) call for projects launched annually by ADEME enables companies to decarbonise their processes while relying on locally sourced biomass resources, thereby contributing to the economic development of the region.”
Oterra said its investment in the biomass boiler at the Cossé-le-Vivien site underscores its dedication to environmental stewardship, innovation, and collaboration.
Oterra installs €1.8m biomass boiler at Cossé-le-Vivien site
