VINCI Airports adopted a global environmental policy in 2015, aimed in particular at reducing the energy consumption and carbon footprint of its activities. To reduce the impacts relating to air traffic, which is the primary source of indirect emissions for VINCI Airports, a system to adjust landing fees based on aircraft emissions was introduced at some airports in 2020. It extended the existing environmental adjustments for noise and NOx to also cover aircraft CO₂ emissions with a view to accelerating fleet renewal. This system is based on the CO₂ emissions of each aircraft during its landing and take-off (LTO) cycle depending on its engine configuration. Based on the level of CO₂ emissions, landing fees are subject to either a discount or a surcharge. The mechanism approved at Economic Advisory Committee (CoCoEco) meetings is already in operation at all regional airports in France. Beginning on 1 January 2022, it will be implemented at Lyon-Saint Exupéry airport, then subsequently extended to London Gatwick airport. VINCI Airports is the world’s first airport operator to launch such a system. VINCI Airports is also encouraging the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), as companies using SAF emit less CO₂ and will benefit from lower landing fees. Clermont-Ferrand Auvergne and London Gatwick airports began SAF operations in 2021. Biofuels are an immediately accessible solution for decarbonising aviation, until other technological breakthroughs such as hydrogen-powered aircraft become available. In that area, VINCI Airports signed a partnership with Airbus and Air Liquide in 2021 to develop the use of hydrogen at airports and accelerate the decarbonisation of air travel. Other pathways to action are being implemented to reduce airline emissions. The “Monitoring aircraft carbon footprint” initiative measures carbon emissions during taxiing in real time. It won a prize at the 2021 VINCI Environment Awards. VINCI Airports also offers to supply power and air conditioning for aircraft, thereby eliminating the need to use auxiliary power units while on the ground and avoiding the burning of kerosene. Lastly, VINCI Airports is helping to reduce emissions related to user transport to and from its facilities by setting up charging stations for electric vehicles at airport car parks (337 stations available at end-2021).
VINCI Energies is also playing its part to promote sustainable mobility in urban and rural areas by developing integrated recharging infrastructure solutions for electric and hybrid vehicles. For example, Easy Charge, a joint venture developed by VINCI Energies and VINCI Autoroutes, is supporting leading electric mobility firms in relation to all the technical and operational aspects involved with deploying charging solutions, from their initial design stage through to relations with users. In 2021, Easy Charge added 97 charging stations to the eborn network, which it manages under a public service delegation contract, on its way towards a long-term target of 12,000 stations.
The addHelix digital solution by Axians (VINCI Energies) optimises delivery routes for freight companies, generating an average 20% reduction in emissions for customers.
VINCI is rolling out a growing range of offers and solutions to support the energy transition and improve the energy performance of the buildings and infrastructure that it builds and operates.
The VINCI Construction France subsidiaries are involved in developing eco-districts. Examples from the Greater Paris area include Les Terrasses de l’Arsenal in the future Arsenal eco-district in Rueil-Malmaison, the Athletes’ Village under the Universeine project in Saint-Denis, and the Docks programme under way in Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine. The Docks is also a component of a wider-ranging urban development project to rehabilitate a former industrial site and transform it into an eco-district based on rigorous sustainability standards, with buildings that meet strict environmental requirements: NF HQE™ Très Performant, BREEAM® Excellent, E+C– (Energy 2 and Carbon 1), WiredScore Silver and BiodiverCity®.
VINCI Construction France and VINCI Immobilier are also assisting with the implementation of the new French environmental regulation adopted in 2020 (RE 2020), which factors in the energy consumption and carbon impact of buildings throughout their life cycle. Without waiting for the new standards to come into force, several projects have been part of the national trial initiative, which is testing the thresholds under “real-life” conditions and anticipating the best energy and carbon performance levels, including the E+C– label for positive-energy, low-carbon buildings. The arts and sciences building known as Hoche III, at the Hoche campus of Université de Nîmes, targets Energy 2 and Carbon 1. The Origine project in Nanterre aims to achieve seven certifications and labels, including E+C– at levels Energy 2 and Carbon 2.
VINCI Construction is fully committed to the energy renovation initiative to benefit existing buildings. In 2021, renovations generated revenue of about €600 million. In France, several large-scale renovation projects were led at occupied sites. One example is the refurbishment of 988 housing units in the Les Noirettes and Grand Bois residential complexes in Vaulx-en-Velin near Lyon, carried out by Citinéa under a design-build contract with the contribution of Arbonis. Another is the Clairval renovation project, covering 608 units in Lillebonne, a town in Normandy, by Sogea Nord-Ouest, with an energy efficiency commitment and an expected reduction of more than 40% in primary energy consumption.
To meet the high-volume needs of thermal building renovation, VINCI Construction France has developed Rehaskeen®, a solution that mass-produces facade thermal insulation systems and speeds up renovation works. It has been implemented outside Paris in Trappes on behalf of Immobilière 3F (ActionLogement group) and at the Parc residence in Vernouillet on behalf of CDC Habitat. The Parc project involves renovating an occupied site comprising a total of 213 housing units across five buildings. Rehaskeen® was one of two Technical Prize winners in the “Acting for the climate” category at the 2021 VINCI Environment Awards.
