PARIS (Reuters) – Veolia wants to accelerate its development in the energy sector by the end of the decade by relying on the needs of decarbonization, local production and savings of its customers, said on Thursday its general director, Estelle Brachlianoff.

The world number one in water and waste specified during a presentation of its strategy in the sector, in London, that it was targeting a 50% increase in its production capacity from bioenergy and of renewables, to reach 8 gigawatts (GW) in 2030.

Veolia is also counting on the same deadline on a 50% increase, to 3 GW, in its “flexibility” capacities (consumption cancellation or deferral services).

Still on the horizon of 2030, the group also has the ambition to become the number 1 in district heating networks in Europe, as well as in energy efficiency for buildings and industries in Europe and the Middle East.

“Veolia is a leader in ecological transformation. Our activity consists of helping our customers to decarbonize (…). The energy sector is essential for this component of our ambition,” declared Estelle Brachlianoff during a conference.

Estimating unexploited production capacity in Europe at 400 GW – from heat, water, non-recyclable waste, biomass or avoided losses on the networks – the general director indicated that Veolia had the ambition to move 2 to 4 billion euros of investments in energy by 2030.

The group has activities in the local production of energy from waste and wastewater, the management of heat and cold networks, as well as energy efficiency, for local authorities, industry and large buildings (hospitals, shopping centers, etc.).

Energy represented around 25% of the group’s turnover in 2022, or around 10.5 billion euros, compared to 41% for water and 35% for waste.

(Reporting by Benjamin Mallet, editing by Kate Entringer)

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