Syensqo secures French government support for decarbonization project
Last update on Feb 20, 2026
Syensqo's decarbonization project at the Saint-Fons site (Rhône, France) has been selected under the “Major Industrial Decarbonization Projects” call for proposals, part of the France 2030 investment plan. The project is one of seven industrial initiatives chosen by the French government to support the decarbonization of key industrial sites across France.
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Large-capacity electric boiler to produce decarbonized steam
At its Saint-Fons site, Syensqo will install a large-capacity electric boiler to produce decarbonized steam, replacing two natural gas boilers currently in operation. The total investment is estimated at €20 million and will enable a reduction of 22 ktCO₂ per year.
The project will be implemented in partnership with energy provider Dalkia, with commissioning scheduled for 2029, and will enable the site to almost completely phase out fossil fuels, also thanks to the installation of a biomass boiler. This electric boiler project indeed complements the biomass boiler currently being installed at the Saint-Fons site, with the first low-carbon steam production expected by the end of 2026, using primarily wood waste sourced from the Rhône-Alpes region as fuel.
“Our decarbonization projects strengthen both our competitiveness and our energy autonomy at a time of high volatility in energy and carbon prices. This project highlights the importance of government support for industrial investments in this field, in order to reconcile the requirements of the sustainability transition with international competitiveness. It shows our ability to combine industrial performance with climate action, while securing the future of an innovative and resilient chemical industry in France,” Arnaud Douet, industrial director at Syensqo.
“Following the future commissioning of the biomass boiler at the end of 2026 in Saint-Fons, this electrification project marks a new milestone for the site. By creating this low-carbon energy mix with Syensqo, we are linking competitiveness and decarbonization over the long term. Together, we are demonstrating that the industry of tomorrow will either be sustainable or it will not exist,” Jérôme Aguesse, regional director at Dalkia.
Aim to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42% by 2030
The Saint-Fons projects are part of Syensqo’s global One Planet ambition, which aims to reduce the Group’s Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42% by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. The project also supports the broader decarbonization efforts of companies in the Vallée de la Chimie, through the low-carbon industrial zone “DECLYC,” backed by France 2030.
Syensqo’s Saint-Fons site is a historic site in the Vallée de la Chimie dedicated to specialty chemicals. It primarily produces vanillin for the food industry and also provides solutions to a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, perfumery, pharmaceuticals, electronics and polymers.