In France, bioenergy helps defossilise everyday production. In particular, renewable heat is playing an increasingly important role in industrial decarbonisation. While biomass is often associated with small-scale installations, the example of Bel Group’s Babybel production site in Évron demonstrates that this solution can be deployed effectively at an industrial scale.

Defossilising everyday production

The plant Bel plant in Évron, which produces around half of the iconic Babybel cheeses consumed worldwide, shows how a practical shift in heat generation can deliver meaningful environmental and economic benefits.

Évron is in a region with a long dairy tradition. For Bel, decarbonising production while ensuring stable operational costs became a strategic priority. To do this, the company partnered with Idex to install a 6.6 MW biomass steam plant that now supplies 80% of the site’s heat demand. This renewable heat source supports the core stages of cheese processing.

What helped the switch in France?

This transition was made possible by several enabling factors. One is the region’s strong agricultural landscape: the biomass used is primarily material from local hedgerows and it is supplied by nearby farmers. This creates an efficient loop where local resources support local production, strengthening the local economy.

Another essential element is Fonds Chaleur, France’s national support scheme dedicated to renewable heat. By helping to finance the adoption of low-carbon technologies, the programme enables industries to replace fossil fuels with reliable, locally available alternatives.

The Babybel example illustrates how targeted national policies, regional resources, and industrial requirements can align to advance France’s energy transition. It is practical switch, integrating renewable heat into everyday production while reducing emissions and reinforcing local economies. Today, In france, bioenergy helps defossilise everyday production.