Energy & Climate
Orano has committed in an Energy - Climate strategy for many years, driven by its strategic vision, its commitments and its Nuclear Safety - Environmental Policy. The strategy has five pillars. The Energy-Climate leaders, sponsored by two members of the Executive Committee, report progress with the initiatives to the Executive Committee and to the Board of Directors.
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Improve the energy efficiency of our operations
Orano takes steps to ensure energy economy and efficiency. For instance, it:
- performs comprehensive audits of its energy-intensive sites and obtains ISO 50001 certification for major sites;
- uses energy-management software to measure consumption better and identify areas for improvement;
- improves the efficiency of energy-intensive equipment such as motors.
Our results for 2023
Eco-driving of the Georges Besse II installation
In 2023, the teams from the Georges Besse II plants on the Tricastin site finalized an eco-driving project consisting of reducing the voltage of the centrifuges used to enrich natural uranium. This project has led to reductions in centrifuge consumption and cooling requirements, while maintaining the same high standards of safety and productivity. The savings are estimated at 15 GWh per year, i.e.,
almost 4% of the energy consumption of the Tricastin platform.
Our objective for 2025
- Reduce energy consumption by 10 % compared with 2019
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Performance at OranoDiscover
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Reduce our SCOPE 1 and 2 greenhouse GAS emissions in line with the Paris agreements
The Group reduced its emissions by 57% between 2004 and 2019. The Group has set an objective of an additional 25% reduction between 2019 and 2025, focusing its efforts in four areas:
- energy-management actions that will also help reduce Scope-1 and -2 emissions;
- decarbonization of very high-carbon electricity mixes in countries where we operate;
- electrification of operations;
- reduction in refrigerant leakages and process emissions.
Scopes 1 & 2 GHG emissions (ktCO2e)
Our results for 2023
From uranium to solar energy in the Aïr desert
The Orano Somaïr site is currently planning to install 8 MW of solar-photovoltaic production capacity. This will meet 20% of its required energy consumption and reduce its Scope-2 greenhouse-gas emissions.
Orano Mining is also currently considering capitalizing on this initiative to develop a skills-based subsidiary in the country, which has a high potential for solar energyOur objective for 2025
- Reduce our GHG Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 25 % compared with 2019
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Undertake to reduce the group's Scope 3 emissions
Orano has been quantifying the carbon footprint within the value chain (known as Scope 3), since 2019. It represents 80% of the Group’s total footprint. Most of the impact is upstream of our operations, mainly from the purchase of goods and services and capital assets.
The working group leading this topic is focusing its efforts in three areas:
- improving the measurement of Scope-3 related emissions, in particular by identifying accurately Orano suppliers’ emission factors and by increasing the proportion (until now below 50%) of the balance calculated using physical data;
- adopting a common approach with the main suppliers to reduce the impact of the activities they carry out on the Group’s behalf;
- continuing with eco-design work: a dedicated working group has been set up including all those involved in Group projects. One of its objectives is to help construct an efficient approach to decarbonization.
Orano decarbonization targets
Our results for 2022
The Group is actively working on Scope 3 and is engaging its suppliers
After identifying the purchasing segments that contribute most to the Group’s Scope 3, the supply chain team has invited the main suppliers (around 30) to brief them on their carbon footprint and their short- and medium-term trajectory; and to align us all regarding a common objective for 2030. At the end of 2023, Orano joined the Decarbonization Alliance of Pacte PME in order to offer a support program to its SME suppliers.
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See the Supplier Sustainable Development CommitmentDiscover
Our objective for 2030
- Reduce our Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions by 20 % compared with 2019
- Eco-design 100 % of our major projects
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Adapt our activities in the light of climate change
Orano is fully aware of the need to adapt our activities to climate change. Since 2021, it has been assessing the risks and opportunities related to physical and transition risks, in compliance with the Task-Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) standard.
The physical risks related to climate change have been analyzed up to 2050 based on emission scenarios RCP-4.5 and RCP-8.5. The impacts identified were moderate and are being managed as part of an adaptation plan.
Different scenarios
Scenario with very low emissions with a culminating point before 2050. This is the most optimistic scenario.
Scenario with stabilization of emissions at a low level before the end of the 21st century.
Scenario with stabilization of emissions at a medium level before the end of the 21st century.
No changes are made. GHG emissions continue to increase at the current rate. This is the most pessimistic scenario.
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See the analysis of the Group’s physical and transition risksDiscover
The nature of its activities, which enable the delivery of low-carbon, manageable, competitive and safe electricity, means that the effects of climate change are, in terms of transition, mostly opportunities for Orano. The contribution of Orano’s activities to a low-carbon world is demonstrated by the strategic directions it has taken in the past, one of which is, importantly, the climate. This commitment is evident today in its purpose, and, in practical terms, in its investment in research, development and innovation in technologies for decarbonization and resource conservation.
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Innovate for the climate and for resource conservation
Orano has made the climate and the conservation of resources central to its purpose and its strategic directions.
The Group has always been involved in the circular economy, both throughout the nuclear-fuel cycle and in reprocessing spent nuclear fuels in its La Hague and Melox plants. This solution allows us to reduce the quantity and radioactivity of the waste.
The Group is exploring and developing new models in the following areas: the circular economy for rare and strategic resources; the transition and modernization of industrial models; the control of complex materials and the reduction of their impact; health ecosystems; carbon neutrality; and the reduction of the environmental footprint.
Our results for 2023
An upcoming player in the battery recycling market
Launched in 2020, the Orano project aims to develop battery recycling for electric vehicles. The first results of the two industrial pilots built in the new facilities of CIME (extractive metallurgy innovation center) at the Orano site in Bessines-sur-Gartempe now make it possible to switch to the industrial scale. Orano is planning to build industrial recycling facilities in Hauts-de-France whose capacity must cover 10% of the needs of the European market by 2030.
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Link to @Orano InnovationLearn more
- Purpose and Commitments In 2020, Orano worked with its employees to co-construct a corporate purpose, which was adopted by the Board of Directors on December 17.
- Our Biodiversity Strategy Aware of the crucial importance of protecting biodiversity, Orano drew up and rolled out a Group Biodiversity Strategy in 2022, in line with its climate commitment.