Against a backdrop of accelerating industrial decarbonization, ICT is reaching a key milestone at its Pannes facility (Loiret) with the launch of construction on its future biomass boiler plant, designed, financed, and operated by ENGIE. This Thursday, July 2, Johan Lemarchand, Managing Director of ICT, and Benoît Martin, Central-Western Director of Local Energy Infrastructures at ENGIE, in the presence of Mohamed Amjahdi, Regional Director of ADEME Centre-Val de Loire, laid the first stone, marking the official start of the construction site.
Commissioning scheduled for late 2027
The future 9 MW biomass boiler facility will be fueled by wood energy sourced within a 100-kilometer radius. It will cover 78% of the steam requirements needed for the industrial process and will prevent the emission of approximately 11,160 tonnes of CO₂ by replacing the fossil gas currently used.
This future facility is a winner of the BCIAT 2022 project call (Biomass Heat for Industry, Agriculture, and the Service Sector) and, as such, benefits from a €4.2M state subsidy under the France 2030 plan operated by ADEME. The global financing is supported by ENGIE up to €16M on behalf of ICT over a 15-year period.
Work started in the second quarter of 2026, leading to industrial commissioning in late 2027.
Towards local, renewable, and competitive energy
ICT integrated this biomass project into its plant expansion program, aiming to double the production capacity of the Pannes site by 2025, and beyond that, into its decarbonization roadmap in line with its environmental commitments.
The ICT Group aims to reduce the environmental impact of its activities and decrease its dependence on fossil fuels. Utilizing local biomass will allow the manufacturer to control its energy costs amidst fluctuating energy prices, thereby maintaining its competitiveness in the paper industry while meeting consumer expectations regarding environmental responsibility.
“This new biomass facility will significantly contribute to the ICT Group’s ambitions to reduce its carbon footprint.” — Johan Lemarchand, Managing Director of ICT.
“We are delighted to support ICT in this exemplary approach, which will significantly reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. This project illustrates the expertise of our industry specialists, who are capable of designing a turnkey solution to reduce the carbon impact of the ICT facility in Pannes while lowering the manufacturer’s energy bill.” — Benoît Martin, Brittany Central-Western Director of Local Energy Infrastructures at ENGIE.
“The decarbonization of industry is a crucial issue for the competitiveness and long-term viability of our businesses. Through ADEME, the State supports—via funding and expertise—projects led by the women and men committed to the ecological transition of their sector. The signing of a financing agreement between ADEME and ENGIE, on behalf of ICT, materializes this willingness to act today.” — Joëlle Colosio – Deputy Executive Director of Territories, ADEME.
