Idex decarbonises a drying plant for LIS by Lesaffre in Cérences

Idex, a key player in the local low-carbon energy market, and LIS by Lesaffre, a provider of drying services for animal feed ingredients, inaugurated a steam production plant in Cérences, Normandy on 4 April 2024.

With this installation, LIS by Lesaffre will significantly increase the share of renewables in the energy mix of its French plant. LIS customers can now significantly reduce the carbon footprint of their own ingredients, with a wide range of drying technologies that are now 85% decarbonised.

inauguration usine de chauffage LIS by Lesaffre et Idex

For this project, launched in 2021, LIS by Lesaffre decided to work with Idex, a company recognised for its know-how and expertise. Idex was asked to design, finance, build and operate the steam generation plant for a period of 15 years. Commissioned in February 2024, the new biomass power plant will contribute to avoiding the emission of 13,500 tonnes of CO2 per year, while controlling steam production costs and reducing the site's dependence on fossil fuels.

Located in Cérences near Granville in Normandy, the 12 t/h (8 MW) biomass boiler plant, was custom-designed by Idex. It will produce over 110,000 tonnes of decarbonised steam per year, equivalent to 77,000 MWh. A total 85% of this steam will be supplied by biomass, with gas for peak and back-up requirements. Seventy percent of the fuel required for the boiler plant will come from wood chips harvested less than 150 km from the industrial site, and 30% from end-of-waste wood packaging.

This new facility is a practical response to the requirements of customers looking for low-carbon drying technologies. At the same time, it continues a process initiated several years ago by LIS to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. This is what we are doing today in Cérences, and tomorrow we aim to do the same thing at our industrial site in Poland.

Franck Auger

CEO, LIS by Lesaffre