All of the Group’s entities are committed to reducing energy consumption levels for their buildings. In line with the energy sufficiency plan adopted by VINCI in 2022, new initiatives were taken in 2024. VINCI Construction launched an energy performance assessment of all of its buildings in France, with the aim of extending energy improvement measures to a larger number of sites. In addition, targeted investments were made to convert the Group’s biggest emitters to less carbon-intensive energy sources. VINCI Concessions is gradually replacing its gas- and oil-fired boilers with heat pumps and installing solar farms to expand self-consumption. Likewise, in Australia, VINCI Construction is installing solar hybrid generators for its Western Distributor Smart Motorway (WDSM) project. VINCI’s business lines are also taking local energy efficiency initiatives, such as the implementation of strict rules for heating and air conditioning by VINCI Airports and VINCI Energies. These initiatives are monitored at VINCI Airports using smart metering systems and supplemented with the continuation of LED relighting. The replacement rate was 72% at end-2024.
Decarbonising the energy mix
In addition to reducing their energy consumption, several entities have taken steps to decarbonise the energy they use. The Group is prioritising the installation of renewable energy systems for self-consumption, power purchase agreements (PPAs), renewable energy supply contracts and, as a last resort, purchases of guarantee of origin certificates. Some Group entities are also expanding the use of biofuels, especially in construction.
Self-consumption of renewable energy is growing at VINCI Autoroutes. Solar canopies have been in service at the Vedène site since February 2024 that can produce the equivalent of 12% of the site’s energy consumption. Following the first installation, more canopies will soon be deployed at additional sites in the VINCI network. In 2024, VINCI Concessions also continued to increase solar power generation to decarbonise its electricity consumption. Several solar farms were built or are under construction, for an installed capacity of more than 80 MWp at end-2024.
Actions to reduce emissions in the value chain
In 2024, the Group continued to implement action plans to reduce its indirect emissions in priority areas:
- decarbonising materials;
- decarbonising building and infrastructure use;
- decarbonising motorways;
- reducing emissions from airport users.
Decarbonising materials
Low-carbon concrete and recycled steel
Use of low-carbon concrete at VINCI Construction
In 2020, VINCI Construction, which accounts for around 90% of Group emissions relating to concrete purchases, adopted a target for 90% of the concrete used to comply with a low-carbon standard by 2030, covering all the quantities for which this type of solution is technically and economically viable (see “Overview of the main commitments by business line”, page 197). VINCI Construction is accelerating the rollout of its low-carbon, very-low-carbon and ultra-low-carbon Exegy® solutions, which reduce CO2 emissions by up to 70% while delivering the same or better resistance and durability compared to conventional concrete. In 2024, 29% (20% in 2023) of the total concrete used by VINCI Construction, and 60% of that used in France (Building France and Civil Engineering France divisions), was low-carbon concrete. This trend is growing stronger both in France and abroad, particularly in Poland, Latin America and Asia. The use of these solutions is made possible as more partnerships are formed with ready-mix concrete producers, providing all worksites with easy access to low-carbon concrete. Also contributing to this is the increasing use of e-béton on projects. This tool for digitalising the concrete process and improving carbon traceability was designed as part of the intrapreneurship programme offered through Leonard, VINCI’s innovation and foresight platform.
Several emblematic VINCI worksites in 2024 illustrated the progress made, such as the Nantes university hospital complex, where 90% of the concrete used was low-carbon. The Toulouse metro (VINCI Construction) was built with a cutting-edge Exegy® Very Low Carbon formula containing metakaolin.
VINCI Construction is also working with its suppliers and customers to use recycled steel on a large scale in its buildings and structures, such as the transformation of the Musée National des Arts et Traditions Populaires in Paris to become the Maison LVMH – Arts, Talents, Patrimoine, a new cultural institution (Building France Division). Recycled steel accounted for 30% of steel consumed by the Group in 2024 (see paragraph 2.3.3, “Performance monitoring”, page 224).
The Road France Division of VINCI Construction is also working to limit the impacts linked to the transport of these materials through actions in several areas: optimising the distances travelled, ensuring the widespread adoption of covered trucks, investment in internal B100 refuelling systems, setting up two-way freight flows more systematically between production sites, and transforming materials and works procedures. An initiative is also under way with transport providers to promote the use of more efficient, less polluting means of transport.
Responsible purchasing
The Group is working to reduce emissions associated with its purchases, by setting up selection criteria and responsible purchasing processes. These actions are presented in detail in paragraph 3.2.2.1. “Human rights and health and safety issues for purchasing and subcontracting”, page 256. Some VINCI Construction divisions are collaborating with their main suppliers on reporting the carbon impact of their concrete and steel purchases, while VINCI Energies is working with its key suppliers to define responsible purchasing criteria.