Brice-Audren Riché, CEO of Lesaffre, and Frank Lacroix, Executive Vice President of ENGIE, in charge of Energy Solutions activities, celebrated the launch of work on the fatal heat recovery unit at Lesaffre’s historic site in Marcq-en-Barœul on Friday May 24. The two high-powered heat pumps will be commissioned in 2025, and will enable the heat generated by the fermentation process to be reused.
Lesaffre, a world leader in the fermentation industry for over 170 years, is celebrating the start of work on this new fatal heat recovery unit at the heart of the Group’s largest yeast plant, Société Industrielle Lesaffre (SIL) in Marcq-en-Barœul. Officially signed in 2022, this 15-year partnership entrusts ENGIE Solutions with the design, financing, construction, operation and maintenance of these two heat pumps.
Recycle fatal heat to power the production process
The main aim of this project is to recover the fatal heat produced by fermentation to power another stage in the production process: drying. The installation of these two heat pumps, with a total capacity of 19 MWth, will enable the heat produced in the fermentation workshop during the yeast cell multiplication stage to be transformed and injected into the yeast drying process. This system will avoid the emission of 30,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, and will also reduce the site’s water consumption, saving 150,000 m3 of water per year.
« By installing this fatal heat recovery unit at the heart of the Group’s largest yeast plant, on the Société Industrielle Lesaffre site in Marcq-en-Barœul, Lesaffre is once again proving its commitment to the environment, and the importance of its regional roots in the Hauts-de-France region. We’re very proud to welcome this wonderful project,” says Julie Bethry, General Manager of Société Industrielle Lesaffre.
A project in line with Lesaffre’s commitment
For several years now, Lesaffre has been committed to reducing its carbon footprint, in particular by aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050 and by optimizing the management of its resources, water and waste. Driven by the desire to innovate by systematically integrating social and environmental values into each of its initiatives, the Group is committed to sustainable and responsible growth. This project is consistent with Lesaffre’s commitments, which are structured around 3 pillars: taking care of people, producing sustainably and maintaining responsible relationships, and respecting our environment.
By officially launching the start of work on this ambitious project in partnership with ENGIE Solutions, Lesaffre is continuing its efforts to decarbonize its production sites. This project is in line with other projects undertaken by Lesaffre over the last few years, including the installation of a biomass plant at the LIS by Lesaffre site in Cérences (Normandy), the installation of a wind turbine at the Algist Bruggeman site in Belgium, or the signature in 2023 and 2024 of direct renewable energy purchase contracts (CPPA) with other players in the energy sector to supply green energy to the Group’s largest yeast plant at Marcq-en-Barœul and the Biospringer by Lesaffre site at Maisons-Alfort in the Paris region.
This innovative project is the winner of ADEME’s call for industrial decarbonization projects, receiving a €5.6 million subsidy.
“This project is a concrete illustration of the approach to which we have been committed at Lesaffre for several years: to produce responsibly by limiting our CO2 emissions and water consumption. By celebrating the launch of work on this waste heat recovery unit at our historic Marcq–en–Baroeul site, we are taking another concrete step towards decarbonizing our production sites and affirming Lesaffre’s commitment to sustainable, responsible growth“, emphasizes Brice-Audren Riché, Lesaffre’s CEO.
« Through this partnership, we are supporting a industrial company resolutely committed to the quest for energy and environmental performance. The joint efforts of the ENGIE Solutions and Lesaffre teams have enabled this virtuous project to emerge: a competitive energy supply while greatly reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Waste heat represents a colossal resource, and exploiting it is of strategic importance in terms of energy sovereignty and efficiency,” says Frank Lacroix, Executive Vice President of ENGIE, in charge of Energy Solutions activities.