Heavy equipment arrived on Thursday to begin construction of a “green” solvent plant at the Saint-Avold site in Moselle, home to one of France’s last two coal-fired power plants.
The equipment, intended for the ReSolute project by startup Circa, marks the beginning of the site’s transformation. Last September, President Emmanuel Macron announced the conversion of the plant to biomass by 2027, but unions have since lamented a lack of concrete action.
First Steps Towards a New Future
Pending the plant’s conversion, which will continue to operate on coal next winter, the first containers carrying equipment for the future solvent plant were unloaded in the presence of the Prefect of Moselle, Laurent Touvet.
This €73 million project, scheduled to start by the end of 2025, “marks a first step towards new activities,” he said. The solvent plant is expected to create around 50 direct jobs and 250 indirect jobs.
Government Support for Site Transformation
The state is supporting the platform’s transformation through the France Relance program and the coal fund. Nearly €20 million in subsidies have been allocated to the Circa project from the state, the EU, and local authorities.
Green Solvent Production from Wood Sawdust
On 1.5 hectares of land owned by GazelEnergie, the plant’s owner, 1,200 tons of green solvents will be produced annually from wood sawdust sourced from Vosges and German forests.
“A green solvent, non-toxic and non-carcinogenic,” according to David-Alexandre Leduc of Circa Chemicals Sustainable, an Australian company headquartered in Oslo.
Wide Range of Applications
Solvents, usually of petrochemical origin, are used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and the recycling of textiles and batteries.
The project awaits environmental authorization from the state, following the completion of a public inquiry expected to begin at the end of summer.
A Timely Opportunity for GazelEnergie
Circa’s arrival is timely, according to Antonin Arnoux, director of the GazelEnergie site. “It’s a good signal to help us limit the impact of a potential total shutdown, or not,” of the coal plant, he said.
While he considers the project insufficient to fully transform the site, he describes it as an “essential link,” as it is the most advanced to date.
Additional Projects for Site Transformation
In addition to the transition of the coal plant to biomass or gas, GazelEnergie is developing a hydrogen production project on the site, expected to be operational in 2027.