Location >> Industry News | Sofidel Deploys Biomass Boiler at French Mill, Cutting Natural Gas Consumption by More Than 12 Million m³ Annually
Date：2026-08-12
Sofidel, a global leader in the paper industry, has commissioned a new biomass boiler at one of its production facilities in France, marking another step in the company’s transition toward lower-carbon industrial heat.
Supported by a dedicated industrial biomass heating programme from ADEME, the French Agency for Ecological Transition, the project uses agricultural and forestry residues as fuel to supply renewable heat for industrial production.
According to project information, the new biomass boiler is expected to reduce the facility’s annual natural gas consumption by more than 12 million cubic metres, significantly reducing its reliance on fossil fuels.
For the paper industry, heat and steam are essential components of the production process. Replacing part of conventional natural-gas-based heat generation with biomass boilers can not only reduce fossil fuel consumption, but also create a pathway for the productive use of agricultural and forestry residues as renewable energy resources.
Biomass Heat: An Emerging Route for Industrial Decarbonisation
The Sofidel project highlights a broader trend across Europe’s industrial heating sector: using renewable solid biomass fuels to replace fossil fuels and provide reliable industrial heat and steam.
This approach is particularly relevant to energy-intensive industries such as pulp and paper, food processing, wood processing and chemicals, where large amounts of process heat and steam are required.
France has continued to promote industrial decarbonisation through financial and policy support for renewable heat projects. ADEME’s dedicated support for industrial biomass heating projects can help companies overcome part of the investment challenges associated with large-scale biomass boiler systems.
The Sofidel project demonstrates that biomass boilers are increasingly becoming a practical solution for large industrial facilities seeking to reduce natural gas consumption, diversify their energy mix and accelerate decarbonisation.
As Europe continues to advance its industrial energy transition, technologies including biomass boilers, industrial heat recovery, biomass fuel systems and high-efficiency thermal solutions are expected to play an increasingly important role in the future of industrial heating.
