Sector transition plan for the sugar industry in France

The French sugar industry, a key agricultural and economic sector, faces the challenge of decarbonization to align with France’s 2050 climate commitments. ADEME, France’s ecological transition agency, in partnership with I Care, has modelled three decarbonization scenarios, each highlighting distinct technological and economic pathways. The scenarios explore various approaches to reducing emissions, including energy autonomy through beet pulp utilization, maximizing energy efficiency, and outsourcing anaerobic digestion. These approaches focus on decarbonizing key processes like combined heat and power plants, pulp drying, and lime kilns using technologies such as steam dryers and biomass steam boilers. The “Energy Autonomy” scenario aims for a 96% reduction in emissions by 2050, leveraging beet pulp combustion and energy efficiency measures. The “High Energy Efficiency” scenario targets a 94% reduction by 2050 through extensive electrification and network gas optimization. Lastly, the “Outsourced Anaerobic Digestion” scenario achieves a 92% reduction, partly by decreasing sugar production and utilizing external biogas. Each pathway requires significant investment, ranging from €607mn to €2.5bn, depending on adoption technology and energy price trajectories. The study underscores that no single solution exists; instead, a combination of strategies and technological shifts will be necessary to meet decarbonization goals while maintaining industry competitiveness.