Veolia eyes 8 GW of green capacity, top spot in Europe’s district heating, building efficiency

French water-waste-and-district heating company Veolia has a target to increase its energy production capacity from biofuels and renewables by 50 percent to 8 GW by 2030, the company's general director Estelle Brachlianoff told a presentation in London that was broadcast online.

The company also wants to increase spare capacity – which will help it meet expansion in demand – to 3 GW, or 150 percent of its existing capacity.

Energy contributed €10.5 billion to the group's turnover in 2022, accounting for a quarter of gross income, trailing water with 41 percent and waster with 35 percent.

Veolia aims to become the top district heating network operator on the continent by the end of the decade and lead in energy efficiency for buildings and industries across Europe and the Middle East, Brachlianoff told the audience.

The company also wants to accelerate energy sector development by focusing on decarbonization, local production and energy savings, she said.

Veolia produces energy from its operations in waste and waste management, which is used to supplement operations in hot and cold network management, and for energy efficiency services for public buildings, factories and large infrastructure projects such as hospitals and shopping centres.

The company has been part of the Dow Jones Sustainability World and Europe Indices for seven years running and was ranked joint first among 74 companies in the Multi and Water Utilities industry.