DS Smith has brought online a €90 million biomass boiler at its Rouen paper mill in Normandy, France – one of Europe’s largest mill energy transitions to date.
The new system replaces the site’s coal-fired boiler with a low-carbon, circular solution powered by locally sourced biomass waste.
The project is expected to cut CO₂ emissions by 99,000 tonnes annually – equivalent to removing 40,000 cars from the road or powering 13,000 French homes each year.
The boiler will process around 94,000 tonnes of biomass fuel each year, including industrial and municipal waste wood – mainly from the Paris and Normandy regions – as well as paper production by-products.
Up to 70,000 tonnes of wood waste will be diverted from landfill annually, supporting DS Smith’s 2030 zero-landfill target.
Pierre Jegu, Paper Cluster Director at DS Smith, said: “Our €90m investment in the Rouen biomass boiler demonstrates our commitment to reducing emissions and driving innovation in renewable energy. This project highlights the importance of leveraging waste materials to create sustainable solutions while meeting the energy needs of our operations.”
He added: “The Rouen biomass boiler is a critical step on our journey to Net Zero. By rethinking how waste wood is used, we’re delivering significant carbon savings and promoting a circular economy. This project reflects the power of collaboration between industry and government in creating impactful change.”
The project was developed over nine years in collaboration with the French government and industrial partners. It was backed by a €15 million subsidy from the French Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME) and aligns with France’s Green Industry Bill and the EU Green Deal Industrial Plan.
Emilie Machefaux, Head of the Renewable Heat Department at ADEME, said: “This project illustrates the integration of circular economy principles into the energy transition. By diverting wood waste from landfills and transforming it into a valuable energy resource, DS Smith is contributing to France’s decarbonisation goals.”
Engie Solutions will operate the facility, with plans to add a 10 MW steam turbine for electricity generation in the future.
Frank Lacroix, Executive Vice President of Engie, commented: “We are proud to work with DS Smith on this biomass project, showing how renewable energy can decarbonise industry. By using waste as fuel, it proves biomass can scale locally. Together, we’re driving greener, more efficient manufacturing in France.”
DS Smith activates €90m biomass boiler at Rouen mill
