the essential
Enedis is launching its first low-carbon project in Toulouse. Announced objective: reduce the carbon footprint by 50% through on-site recycling of excavated soil. An initiative which aims to be widespread in France by 2050.
Enedis, electricity network manager, is launching its first low-carbon project in Toulouse, marking an ecological turning point. This project is part of the company’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, in line with Toulouse Métropole’s decarbonization ambitions. The project, located in Launaguet, involves burying a low-voltage line and moving two high-voltage lines on Chemin Virebent. The work, covering one kilometer from Boulevard Florence Arthaud to the Launaguet roundabout, aims to restructure the public domain while reducing the environmental footprint.
“Our biggest stone in the shoe in terms of the carbon footprint is the construction sites. Normally, on a construction site like this, we would have dug the trench and taken the earth to a landfill. And then, we would have brought back again enough to re-fill this gap. But by doing that, we are multiplying our carbon footprint. This is why we have implemented a new innovation”, explains Stéphane Lesénéchal, territorial director of Enedis in Haute-Garonne.
2,500 tonnes of materials processed on site
The innovation is based on the use of excavated earth recycling machines, making it possible to treat and reuse 2,500 tonnes of materials on site. This method avoids landfill and eliminates around 90 semi-trailer journeys, thus considerably reducing CO2 emissions. “This operation implies that the companies with which we work can adapt financially. But it is a bet on the future,” assures Stéphane Lesénéchal. Compared to a traditional method, these machines result in an additional cost of 5%, but with a carbon footprint reduced by approximately 50%.
Enedis plans to multiply these initiatives across France, demonstrating an innovative approach to reconcile infrastructural development and respect for the environment.
