In the Eure, the enormous Dézir industrial project presented to suspicious local residents

Recycle CO2 to produce aviation fuel. This is the objective of the Dézir project, supported by the companies Verso Energy and BEA, which was presented during a first public meeting, Tuesday January 21, 2025, in Alizay (Eure). Dézir, for “Decarbonization in Seine-Eure and in the industrial zone of Rouen”, its full name.

While Europe will force aviation companies to use 70% “green” fuels by 2050, Verso Energy intends to build a CO2 capture unit on two hectaresdirectly on the site of the BEA biomass boiler, in the Clos-Pré industrial zone in Alizay, electrolysis and methanolization units in Petit-Couronne (Seine-Maritime) and, to connect the two, 16 kilometers of buried pipes.

From the 350,000 tonnes of CO2 recycled at BEA, with which the hydrogen produced in Petit-Couronne will be mixed, the project should make it possible to produce, each year, up to 81,0000 tonnes of a fuel designated by the English acronym e-SAF (for “sustainable aircraft fuel” in French).

“Today, aircraft engines are only able to accept 50% synthetic fuel. It is therefore the equivalent of 16,000 Paris-Berlin return flightshalf carbon-free,” explains Camille Petit, project manager at Verso Energy.

According to Verso Energy, 800 jobs would be needed during the three years of construction, and up to 1,400 during the installation phase. The site would then generate 250 “direct and indirect” jobs during its operation.

50% of emissions from the Seine-Eure Agglomeration

As part of the “prior consultation” procedure, provided for by the Environmental Code, a few dozen residents from the surrounding area came to discover the outlines of this colossal project, estimated at 1.3 billion euros. Until March 15, residents of the nineteen municipalities bordering the project are invited to express themselves, to the guarantors designated by the National Commission for Public Debate (CNDP).

“I think we can also solve pollution problems through innovation », praises Arnaud Levitre, the mayor of Alizay. “This project reduces the region’s emissions by half”, adds Bernard Leroy, president of the Seine-Eure Agglomeration.

This will really improve the environment!

From the first turn of speech, Annabelle Mueth, resident of Damps, asks questions. “This means that BEA is responsible for 50% of the agglomeration's CO2 emissions ? » A question that will not receive a direct answer… “There will be no atmospheric emissions. On the contrary, we will reduce them by 95%. This will really improve the environment! » prefers to emphasize Victor Lévy-Frébault, director of Verso Energy.

“Does this mean that other industries would no longer have to make any effort? » asks in turn the mayor of Saint-Pierre-du-Vauvray, Laetitia Sanchez. “Of course the efforts of other manufacturers continue ! » reassures Bernard Leroy.

Half a nuclear reactor

In total, the project will require an energy power of approximately 410 MWe(megawatts of electricity), the vast majority consumed on the Petit-Couronne site. “It’s half of a nuclear reactor!” » raises Alexis Fraisse, environmental activist based in Louviers. “It will be necessary to consume 3 KWe of electricity to produce 1 KWe of kerosene, the plane will become even more energy consuming … »

Katia Camus, the mayor of Damps, “a pretty town with a panoramic view of the Alizay industrial zone”, asks about possible “new chimneys”. “Will there be additional noise pollution? »

“The height of the future absorption column corresponds approximately the height of the current boiler. We are going to do landscape sketches,” commits the director of Verso Energy, who announces a noise of 60 dB at the property line. “It should completely melt before reaching the first homes,” he adds.

Is there still time to debate the advisability of the project?

“We are being told about a 'prior consultation'. Is there still time to debate the advisability of the project? Agreements have already been signed… » points out Jean-Pierre Négaret, municipal councilor of Sotteville-sous-le-Val.

“It is not because the project owners have signed agreements that the project is accepted. They will have the obligation to respond to the assessment”, assures Philippe Bertran, guarantor of the National Commission for Public Debate. “We need to take your comments into account to improve the project and the result of the public inquiry,” confirms Victor Lévy-Frébault.

Commissioned in 2029

Other public meetings are planned for January 22in Petit-Couronne, the February 24in Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray and the 11 mars in Petit-Couronne. Information stands will also be present on February 23on the Pont-de-l’Arche market and the February 24at the Super U in Oissel.

According to the defined timetable, the preliminary consultation, until March 15, 2025, will be followed by a public inquiry, then the examination of permits and obtaining authorizations. The work should then last nearly three years, to commissioning planned for 2029.

According to the director of Verso Energy, around a hundred similar projects are under study in Europe, including around fifteen in France.

The preliminary consultation is carried out by two independent guarantors, designated by the National Commission for Public Debate (CNDP): Philippe Bertran and Caroline Werkoff. Contacts: [email protected] et [email protected].

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