Hydrogen, carbon capture, biomass. Facing the most polluting industrialists in the country, Emmanuel Macron outlined what industrial decarbonization could look like, while the levers in the field currently remain few and expensive, and France wants to cut emissions in half (43 million tons of C02, or 10% of national emissions) in 2030. Enough to meet its European commitments, marked by the Fit for 55 plan, and which should lead to carbon neutrality in 2050.
Priority was given to three technologies capable of generating these changes, starting with hydrogen: recalling that France adopted a plan on this issue in 2018, the President of the Republic mentioned the 2 billion already invested in gigafactory electrolyser projects, which produce “green” hydrogen.
Another issue, biomass: Emmanuel Macron advocated the establishment of an “integrated forestry sector” capable of increasing the production of biomass available for uses that do not have non-polluting alternatives. He also announced that within 6 months the government will build a strategy on this subject, and that 200 million euros will be invested “over the next 3 years in fundamental and applied research.” Heat storage and chemical processes are priorities.
Finally, the executive seems to want to speed up carbon capture and sequestration technologies: if the process is criticized by scientists and environmental associations, it could be necessary for highly polluting industrialists to reduce their residual emissions.
Duplication of public aid
After these sectoral announcements, the President of the Republic launched a challenge to the industrialists, through “ecological transition contracts”: he wants them to accelerate the research and deployment of non-polluting solutions – with additional aid at stake.
With the commitment of having to achieve a reduction of 10 million tons of annual CO2 emissions for the time being, manufacturers are encouraged to change to a target of 20 million, a way to reach the targets of the Fit for 55 plan without restrictions. .
Source: BFM TV
