The Lium airship hovers above industrial sites to monitor their gas leaks and fire outbreaks

An airship floats above the industrial sites of GRT Gaz, the European leader in gas transport, and Orano, the world leader in uranium management for nuclear power plants. “Attached to the ground by a cable, it integrates on-board cameras and sensors to detect fire outbreaks, gas leaks and intrusions” explains Guilain Yvon, director of Lium, who adds: “We are fortunate to work with aware manufacturers who are giving themselves the means to seek innovations to decarbonize or improve security. »

With this tool, the startup not only wants to secure industrial sites but also contribute to their decarbonization. Lium particularly remembers the Lubrizol disaster in September 2019, the cost of which partly fell on the community while causing significant damage on an environmental scale. “The regulations that followed require manufacturers to better know what they emit with their activity but also in the event of a disaster. »

An unanswered obligation?

After France, the European Union has also taken up the issue by imposing specific minimum requirements relating to the environment, in particular with the directive on the duty of vigilance of companies in matters of sustainability. “A gas leak, particularly if it is methane, has a 10 to 20 times greater potential for warming the atmosphere compared to CO2. » Lium's airship contains sensors to detect leaks as quickly as possible.

Lium estimates that it can reduce the French environmental footprint of a multi-site industrial group by 1% by detecting methane leaks as early as possible. “The Lubrizol regulations not only force manufacturers to reduce their impact but also to quantify it in all circumstances. We see an appetite among manufacturers, unfortunately, they do not have the tools to do so. »

A lift for the start of a solution

Lium is regularly contacted by manufacturers wishing to meet their obligations without being able to fully meet them yet. “They expect a level of precision from the sensors that we are working to develop. We also seek to quantify and figure out how to resolve leaks. » To move forward in this direction, the startup is finalizing a fundraising of 800,000 euros to improve its sensors and make its airship more robust. “We are also asked for forest fire detection, for example, but we do not yet have the industrial means to produce in large capacity to meet the expected quantities. » The fundraising, led by Ava Capital, Valeureux and Aerospace Angels, also brings together two direct descendants of the Montgolfier brothers and will consolidate the presence of the startup in France and extend its solution in Europe.