Installation of a photovoltaic shade
To reduce the carbon footprint of its La Balme site and decarbonize the energy used, bioMérieux has installed a photovoltaic shade on the parking lots. This will enable it to produce 20% of its own energy.
Improving the energy efficiency of bioMérieux’s international distribution center, as part of the expansion of the facilities
bioMérieux is seizing the opportunity of its distribution site expansion to improve the energy efficiency of the building.
Main project's drivers for reducing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
Energy and resource efficiency
Energy Decarbonisation
Energy efficiency improvements
Improving efficiency in non-energy resources
Emission removal
Financing low-carbon issuers or disinvestment from carbon assets
Reduction of other greenhouse gases emission
Project objectives
Minimizing the carbon footprint associated with the activities of the bioMérieux site in Saint-Vulbas, in particular as part of the expansion of the company’s international distribution center.
Detailed project description
In its specifications, the expansion project of the Saint-Vulbas international distribution center includes the following measures for improving the energy efficiency of the building:
- Electrical production from renewable sources: installation of photovoltaic panels allowing self-production of 5% of annual power requirements (1st phase, 1400 m2); 10% once the 2ndphase is completed
- Thermal insulation
- Low-consumption lighting
Emission scope(s)
on which the project has a significant impact
Scope 1
Direct emissions generated by the company's activity.
Scope 2
Indirect emissions associated with the company's electricity and heat consumption.
Scope 3
Emissions induced (upstream or downstream) by the company's activities, products and/or services in its value chain.
Emission Removal
Carbon sinks creation, (BECCS, CCU/S, …)
Avoided Emissions
Emissions avoided by the activities, products and/or services in charge of the project, or by the financing of emission reduction projects.
Scope 1 : Thermal insulation of the future building : quantification : Not assessed
Scope 2 :
Low-consumption lighting : 70% reduction in power usage was achieved by installing low-consumption lighting.
Production of 5% of annual power requirements, up to 10% at a later stage, using photovoltaic panels : Emissions reduced by 20 tons eqCO2, then by 40 tons eqCO2, based on current power consumption (i.e., before the expansion)
Emissions factor for grid power in France = 0.075 kg eqCO2/kWh
CO2 emissions of site in its current configuration (before commissioning of the new building) = 184,353 kg
CO2 emissions with photovoltaic panels providing 5% of total power consumption of site in its current configuration = 165,917 kg
CO2 emissions with photovoltaic panels providing 10% of total power consumption of site in its current configuration = 147,482 kg
Key points
Invested amount
6.2 M €
Starting date of the project
December 2020: Start of installation January 2021: Commissioning
Project localisation
Saint Vulbas, Ain
Project maturity level
Prototype laboratory test (TRL 7)
Real life testing (TRL 7-8)
Pre-commercial prototype (TRL 9)
Small-scale implementation
Medium to large scale implementation
Economic profitability of the project (ROI)
Short term (0-3 years)
Middle term (4-10 years)
Long term (> 10 years)
Illustrations of the project
The project contributes to the following SDGs:
- SDG 7 – Clean and affordable energy, by installing photovoltaic panels to reduce grid power consumption
- SDG 13 – Measures relating to climate change, by implementing solutions aimed at reducing the energy footprint of a new building (thermal insulation/airtightness, low-consumption lighting, recourse to self-production from a renewable energy source for some of the site’s power needs)
To promote the reproducibility of the project, collaboration with local actors must be strengthened. Studies for the installation of photovoltaic panels are in progress on the other sites (shades, ground panels), with assessment of possible financial assistance depending on geographical location.
Contact the company carrying the project :
christophe.berthelot@biomerieux.com laurence.greve@biomerieux.com
Biomérieux’s other projects :
Reduction of CO2 emissions related to the transportation of refrigerated finished products
In order to reduce the carbon footprint of the transportation of its refrigerated finished products, bioMérieux is setting up a daily low-emissions shuttle between its Marcy
