Launch of the Grand Ouest CO2 decarbonization project (GOCO2)

This project supported by the Pays de la Loire Region and the Grand Port Maritime de Nantes Saint-Nazaire (GPMNSN) aims to develop an investment program allowing the capture of CO₂ on industrial sites, its transport by pipeline to the Saint-Nazaire maritime export terminal for permanent geological storage areas, for an estimated capacity of 2,6 million tonnes per year by 2030.

Convinced of the benefits of a collective approach, the GOCO project partners₂ are preparing to jointly undertake the studies necessary for this decarbonization project planned for 2030.

GOCO₂ represents a concrete and ambitious commitment to accelerate the decarbonization of industrial sites in the Great West of France, in addition to actions to avoid and reduce CO emissions₂.

Mainly located in the territories of the Pays de la Loire and Nouvelle-Aquitaine regions, GOCO₂ is today the largest decarbonization project in western France in terms of CO volume₂ captured and transported. It could ultimately transport and export up to 4 million tonnes of CO2 per year in 2050, i.e. more than 75% of industrial emissions in the Great West of France by this horizon.

This project is part of the State's Carbon Capture, Use and Sequestration Strategy (CCUS) (France 2030) as well as the ADEME's Call for Low Carbon Industrial Zones (ZIBAC) projects.

A project integrated into the local ecosystem

Perfectly inserted into the local ecosystem, GOCO₂ partly benefits from existing infrastructure within the Grand Port Maritime Nantes Saint-Nazaire (GPMNSN).

It will eventually make it possible to transport CO emissions₂ from other manufacturers in the Great West, or from CO₂ biogenic resulting in particular from the purification of biomethane. It will also be an asset for attracting new industrial sites to the territory by providing access to decarbonization infrastructure.

Manufacturers committed to supporting the decarbonization of their activities

For Nelly Nicoli, Managing Director of Elengy: « The implementation of CO capture, export and storage chains₂ is a way to rapidly accelerate the decarbonization of French industry. The GOCO project₂ is fully in line with Elengy's decarbonization hub development strategy, which has port infrastructure and an open and transparent approach. Elengy, like all the actors of the consortium, is strongly mobilized to bring this project to fruition within the territory. »

For Anthony Mazzenga, Development Director of GRTgaz: « With the support of the Pays de Loire and Nouvelle Aquitaine regions, GOCO2 is a fairly unique territorial project in France around a consortium that demonstrates the common challenges that we have to overcome collectively. GRTgaz provides its technical skills and experience in the development of transmission infrastructures for the emergence of market places open to all players. GOCO2 is perfectly in line with GRTgaz's strategy, the objective of which is to support industrial policies in terms of decarbonization. »

For Bruno Pillon, President of the French activities of Heidelberg Materials: « This project is key to decarbonizing the cement and lime industry in the far west of France. 2/3 of the cement industry's CO2 emissions are related to the process. Without CO2 capture, there is no decarbonation of the cement. More than 90% of the emissions captured thanks to the project are emissions that cannot be “abated” by technological alternatives other than CO2 capture. It is a real regional project that will allow us to decarbonize our Airvault cement plant in Deux-Sèvres in which we have just invested 285 million euros. »

For François Pétry, Managing Director of Lafarge France: « GOCO₂ will enable the Lafarge plant in Saint-Pierre-la-Cour to take a decisive step towards our Net Zero objective for CO emissions₂ residual while all the other industrial decarbonization levers are implemented. The leading role that we intend to play in this strategic project, both for the Great West and for the country, demonstrates our desire and our commitment to decarbonize our industry at a rapid pace. »

For Jacques Chanteclair, Managing Director of Lhoist Southern Europe : « GOCO₂ would give a tremendous boost to the decarbonization of our Neau plant, which will thus be able to supply carbon-neutral lime to the Great West. It would also demonstrate the willingness of industrial partners to unite to play a leading role in the fight against climate change, with the support of local authorities, the State and the consultation of citizens. »

For Etienne Anglès d'Auriac, CCS Vice-President of Total Energies : " With a target of reducing its direct emissions by more than 40% by 2030 and an ambitious energy efficiency program, TotalEnergies is fully mobilized to reduce the carbon footprint of its activities. Each site, like the Donges platform here, assesses the concrete actions to be implemented to achieve this objective. CO capture and storage₂ is a key lever for reducing residual emissions. The Company's objective is to develop a storage offer in Europe for its residual emissions and those of its customers. We are delighted with the mobilization of all the players in the CCS value chain to decarbonize industry in France. »