In the Loiret, the manufacturer of wooden panels for construction and fittings is going to substitute biomass for gas with wood from its production process.The site will prevent the release of 35,000 tonnes of CO 2 per year.The only manufacturer in France of OSB panels - panels in several layers essentially made of wood chips -, Swiss Krono had anticipated the current energy crisis with its "Green Energy" project.“We started discussions in 2019. We are one of the biggest energy consumers in the region and had three challenges: to consume less energy, to reduce our dust and CO2 emissions and to develop our production,” explains Vincent Adam. , president of the French branch of this Swiss family group, world leader in wood materials.To carry out the operation, Swiss Krono, which also manufactures melamine panels and other wood products for construction and fittings, joined forces with Dalkia, a subsidiary of EDF, and Meridiam, a company specializing in financing sustainable infrastructure.The investment is 120 million euros, so 62 million for Meridiam and 14.8 million in subsidies as part of the recovery plan.The Sully-sur-Loire plant, which employs 400 people, will replace its two high-temperature dryers, which represent 70% of energy expenditure, with two low-temperature dryers.They will consume 5 to 10% less and emit less dust.To get out of dependence on gas, these facilities will be powered by a biomass boiler custom-designed by Dalkia, which will cover "80 to 95%" of the site's energy needs depending on the level of activity, specifies Bruno Moras, Director of Dalkia. in the Center West region.With a capacity of 63 MW, it will process various fuels almost entirely from the production process, bark, dust, scrap, etc., and will heat the thermal fluid that powers the presses.A smoke condenser will also be installed to recover energy from combustion fumes, all by 2024. “Gas should only cover 5% of our needs.We are going to save 2 to 2.5 million euros a year, out of a budget that was usually around 36 million for fluids”, continues Vincent Adam.In addition to these installations, Swiss Krono France, which posted 200 million in turnover last year, will improve the productivity of the site, which has been hampered until now by the lack of drying capacity.The company is planning new equipment, counting on a buoyant market.“The new RE2020 thermal regulations will give pride of place to biosourced materials by 2030,” notes the president.The production capacity of OSB, widely used in wood construction, should increase by 35%, to reach 550,000 cubic meters per year within two or three years and thus meet the increase in demand.Christine Berkovicius (Correspondent in Orléans)All rights reserved - Les Echos 2022