In September 2024, in the port of Gothenburg, in Sweden, VINCI Energies inaugurated the first pilot project involving an onshore power supply (OPS) installed in an explosive atmosphere. Previously used only for passenger boats, an OPS can now also serve cargo ships transporting fuel. The OPS technology provides quayside vessels with electrical shore power, allowing them to shut down their diesel engines. These systems are an effective way of ensuring safety in an explosive atmosphere. The technology also enables tanker trucks to safely connect to an electrical power supply.
Carbon offsetting projects
The Net Zero Initiative framework, developed by the consulting firm Carbone 4, specifies three ways companies can contribute to global net zero: reducing their own emissions, reducing their customers’ emissions and contributing to the development of carbon sinks. In anticipation of requests, some VINCI companies have gotten involved in the creation of carbon sinks that customers can use as a complement to measures they take to reduce emissions.
As a result, carbon credits are used to offset and/or sequester VINCI Airports’ residual emissions as part of its Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) programme and zero net emissions target for 2050. This requires a 90% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions and a net zero commitment for Scope 3 emissions by 2050. Some specific VINCI Energies projects also involved the use of offsetting mechanisms in 2024. Most of these credits come from reforestation projects as well as contributions to hydropower and energy efficiency projects.
At the end of 2024, the carbon credits generated and used by VINCI companies were as follows:
| Owned before 2024 | Added in 2024 | Cancelled/used in 2024 | Total owned at 2024 year-end | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total in ktCO2e | of which % certified to recognised quality standards(*) | of which % related to projects in EU | Total in ktCO2e | of which % certified to recognised quality standards(*) | of which % related to projects in EU | Total in ktCO2e | of which % certified to recognised quality standards(*) | of which % related to projects in EU | Total in ktCO2e | of which % certified to recognised quality standards(*) | of which % related to projects in EU | of which use planned before 2030 | of which use planned after 2030 | |
| Forest restoration | 7.3 | 100% | 100% | 14.8 | 100% | 22% | 11.6 | 100% | 0% | 10.6 | 100% | 100% | 3.4 | 7.2 |
| Other projects | 7.2 | 100% | 0% | 7.2 | 100% | 0% | ||||||||
| Removals Direct operations | 7.3 | 100% | 100% | 22.0 | 100% | 0% | 18.8 | 100% | 0% | 10.6 | 100% | 69% | 3.4 | 7.2 |
| Forest conservation | 2.1 | 100% | 100% | 0.2 | 100% | 0% | 0.2 | 100% | 0% | 2.1 | 100% | 100% | 2.1 | |
| Other projects | 17.1 | 6% | 0% | 17.1 | 6% | 0% | ||||||||
| Removals Value chain | 2.1 | 100% | 100% | 17.3 | 6% | 0% | 17.2 | 6% | 0% | 2.1 | 100% | 100% | 0 | 2.1 |
The credits aimed at reducing the residual emissions of VINCI Airports, purchased before 2024, were mainly through investments by the Lyon airports in two reforestation projects in 2021 and 2022 certified by Label Bas Carbone (Cantinière and Pyramide). Toulon Hyères airport also launched a Label Bas Carbone project to restore part of the forest of Le Lavandou, 20 km away, which was damaged by a fire in 2017. The goal is to sequester 48 tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions and support the preservation of nature in the region, working with Région Sud, the French National Forest Office (ONF), the Méditerranée-Portes-des-Maures group of municipalities, and the seaside village of Le Lavandou. In addition, VINCI Airports invested in an agricultural transition project certified by Label Bas Carbone in 2024 for the sequestration and reduction of its future residual emissions.
Outside France, in 2024 several entities participated in reforestation projects to offset or sequester their residual emissions. For example, the ANA airports in Portugal invested in a hydropower project in India.
Several other projects, aimed at reducing the emissions of VINCI Airports users, have been initiated to protect a total of 150 hectares in France in partnership with Néosylva. At the end of 2024, 45 hectares of forest land was restored in Brittany, the Pays de la Loire and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, and two projects were launched with Alliance Forêt Bois, covering 17.2 hectares in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, to sequester the carbon emissions of MESEA (VINCI Railways). Air travel customers are also given the option to contribute to projects certified by Label Bas Carbone, such as tree-planting in the village of Tauves in the Auvergne, when they book a plane ticket or airport parking.
VINCI’s decarbonisation strategy to 2030 does not rely on offsetting mechanisms to achieve its reduction targets.
Adaptation policy and objectives
Climate change has direct consequences for the Group’s businesses and its employees, such as worksite staff (see paragraph 3.1.3.2, “Health and safety: by everyone, for everyone”, page 245). The growing intensity of extreme weather events is affecting all Group businesses. Extreme weather can threaten business continuity at infrastructure concessions. In other activities, it also exposes workers to risks, especially during the works phase, and affects the structures being built by the Group. At the same time, extreme weather risks also create opportunities for climate change adaptation work, such as building sea walls and dams and repairing power lines.
