The Paris Agreement of 2015 set the

crucial target of limiting global warming

to below 1.5°C. Achieving that target by

2050 means reducing greenhouse gas

emissions to ‘net zero’.

The incentive measures adopted by

the 195 signatory countries actively

encourage the transition to a sustainable

economy. Responsible for 19% of global

emissions (14% in Europe, according to

the International Energy Agency), industry

and construction have a vital role to play

in delivering this transition. More and

more companies are now developing

carbon footprint reduction strategies

focused on their energy mix, energy

eff iciency, performance, CCUS and carbon

offsetting

1

. All these levers can be actioned

sequentially or simultaneously, depending

on the capabilities and resources of

individual companies�

Decarbonisation

of industrial

production:

focusing on

4 key levers

for change

Key principles

Energy eff iciency

The challenge: eliminating and/or adapting some energy eliminating and/or adapting some energy

uses to reduce demand�uses to reduce demand�

The solutions: ensuring accurate sizing of energy-consuming ensuring accurate sizing of energy-consuming

equipment, optimising lighting and heating/cooling plant equipment, optimising lighting and heating/cooling plant

intensity and usage, and pooling industrial production intensity and usage, and pooling industrial production

resources�resources�

The benef its for the

company:

energy energy

budget savings, budget savings,

and integrating the and integrating the

concept and principle concept and principle

of responsible resource of responsible resource

management into management into

everyday working everyday working

practices and practices and

behaviours.behaviours.

A greener energy mix

The challenge: reducing the dependence of industry on reducing the dependence of industry on

carbon-based energy sources by replacing them with carbon-based energy sources by replacing them with

renewable or low environmental impact alternatives. renewable or low environmental impact alternatives.

The solutions: installing photovoltaic panels and/or wind installing photovoltaic panels and/or wind

turbines, using biogas and installing cogeneration systems turbines, using biogas and installing cogeneration systems

to generate electricity from to generate electricity from

industrial process heat.industrial process heat.

The benef its for the

company:

energy resilience energy resilience

and a more effective and a more effective

guarantee of operational guarantee of operational

continuity against a continuity against a

background of fossil fuel background of fossil fuel

supply tensions�supply tensions�

Greater energy eff iciency

The challenge:

reducing production site energy consumption, reducing production site energy consumption,

at the same time as maintaining or even improving production at the same time as maintaining or even improving production

and/or service levels.and/or service levels.

The solutions:

conducting an energy audit, optimising conducting an energy audit, optimising

the energy consumption of industrial production processes, the energy consumption of industrial production processes,

and continuously and continuously

monitoring losses and monitoring losses and

variances so that they can variances so that they can

be corrected quickly.be corrected quickly.

The benef its for the

company:

energy budget energy budget

savings, a rapid return on savings, a rapid return on

investment, no change to investment, no change to

production processes and production processes and

improved compliance with improved compliance with

regulatory changes.regulatory changes.

CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage)

technologies

The challenge:

reducing residual emissions from activities reducing residual emissions from activities

for which no low-carbon alternative is likely to be available in for which no low-carbon alternative is likely to be available in

the medium term, and particularly process-related emissions the medium term, and particularly process-related emissions

(cement, lime, chemicals, steelmaking, magnesia, etc.).(cement, lime, chemicals, steelmaking, magnesia, etc.).

The solutions:

capturing the CO capturing the CO

2 2

emitted by industrial emitted by industrial

facilities and taking it facilities and taking it

off-site for underground off-site for underground

storage (removing storage (removing

it permanently from it permanently from

contact with the contact with the

atmosphere) or using atmosphere) or using

it as a resource to it as a resource to

manufacture products manufacture products

such as biofuels.such as biofuels.

Fossil fuels still account

for more than

80%

of the world’s energy mix.

Source: International Energy Source: International Energy

Agency.Agency.

CCUS could account for

10 to15%

of global ef forts to

achieve carbon neutrality.

Source: International Energy Agency.Source: International Energy Agency.

7%

less energy is used

when the temperature

inside a building

is lowered by just 1°C.

Source: Ademe (The French Source: Ademe (The French

Agency for Ecological Transition).Agency for Ecological Transition).

40%

of the decarbonisation

target set by the

Paris Agreement

can be achieved by

implementing energy

ef f iciency measures.

Source: Metron.Source: Metron.

1. These 4 levers have been identif ied by French energy eff iciency

and business performance optimisation consultants Metron�

Non-Financial Performance Statement 2023 19