Belgian chemical firm Solvay plans to construct a new electric furnace at its silica plant in Collonges, France with operations scheduled to start in 2025. It adds that this shift towards clean energy sources anticipates a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions related to silica production activities.
This initiative marks the first milestone in the plant’s roadmap to shift away from fossil fuels towards more environmentally sustainable and economically competitive energy sources.
“Solvay stands at the global forefront in pioneering highly dispersible silica innovation. With this new investment, we are committed to securing the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of our Collonges facility, delivering enduring advantages to our valued customers,” said An Nuyttens, President of Solvay’s Silica business. “Our Group takes pride in consistently setting new standards for silica producers worldwide. When combined with our circular silica offering, this positions us to provide a unique value proposition to both customers and consumers.”
This facility located near Lyon, France, produces silica for market applications such as green tyres, battery separators, oral care and animal feed.
The project has received support from ADEME as part of the France 2030 Recovery Plan. This initiative adds to the 59 energy transition projects confirmed since 2019 across the Group, which altogether represent a reduction of 3.4 Mt of CO2 emissions per year, equivalent to taking nearly 2 million cars off the road.