Decarbonising industrial heating: a priority
Decarbonising heavy industry is a priority issue at national and international level. Industries such as agri-food, chemicals, paper, etc. require stable, medium-temperature heat (70-150°C). Today, this heat is mainly sourced from fossil fuels, gas or coal-fired boilers, and imported. In 2021, 65% of the heat produced in France came from fossil fuels. Industrial decarbonisation is no longer an option: it is an economic and environmental necessity. It is a vital challenge for the energy transition to meet regulatory obligations to decarbonise and provide a solution to the question of resource sovereignty and sustainability.
MARKETS
Reinventing industrial energy
With more than 50 industrial sites identified as eligible, ARCHEOS is establishing itself as a concrete response to the energy needs of the sectors that consume the most heat. The flexibility that this technology offers means it can be adapted to two types of customers:
1
An industrial player
seeking 100% production output
2
A cluster of industrial players
wishing to share a common production
Many industrial sectors can indeed benefit from carbon-free, local and sustainable energy.
Agri-food
Paper
Polymers
Bioplastics
New markets
The energy versatility of SMRs, such as ARCHEOS, provides a promising technology for decarbonising other areas, including hydrogen production, water desalination, COâ‚‚ capture and urban heating networks. Their compact size, modularity and ability to provide reliable, low-carbon energy make them particularly suitable for these applications.
COâ‚‚ capture
ARCHEOS could power carbon capture and storage (CCS) facilities or integrate direct capture and emissions utilisation (CCU) technologies into industrial processes.
Hydrogen production
ARCHEOS could offer a safe and sustainable solution for hydrogen production, which is essential for the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Water desalination
ARCHEOS could power water desalination plants, offering a sustainable solution to the global issue of water scarcity.
The ambition of ARCHEOS
The ARCHEOS project is part of an ambitious industry contract. The European Union and France (via the France 2030 Plan) are actively supporting the development of thermal SMRs. Two major French companies have come together to leverage their longstanding nuclear and conventional expertise to co-develop this certified and adaptable solution: the CEA, for its development and providing experimental support, and NUVIA for its design, construction and operation. This marks a strong commitment to structuring the industrial SMR sector, reducing the carbon footprint of industries and ensuring France’s energy sovereignty.
ARCHEOS aims to be operational in the early 2030s and to develop 10 reactors by 2040 on a European scale.
