Saint-Gobain Canada officially marked the completion of its expansion and sustainable upgrade project at its CertainTeed Gypsum plant in Sainte-Catherine, Quebec. First announced in 2022, Saint-Gobain completed major electrification upgrades allowing the plant to be solely powered by renewable electricity.In a press release, the company said that “the facility upgrades also helped decrease energy usage by up to 30% and boost production capacity by up to 40%.”With the new process and equipment, CertainTeed’s plant has reportedly reduced its CO2 emissions and it will also launch a new Infinaé gypsum wallboard category in Canada, within which CarbonLow, produced locally, reportedly has less embodied carbon cradle-to-gate.“The ambitious electrification project we just completed in Canada is a tangible and impactful example of Saint-Gobain’s commitment to truly Making the World a Better Home,” shares Jean-Claude Lasserre, CEO, Saint-Gobain Canada. “We were also able to increase production capacity to help address one of Canada’s most pressing current challenges, addressing the housing shortage. This impressive feat shows that with commitment and determination, both productivity and sustainability can walk hand in hand to better the future for all Canadians.”“Today’s ribbon cutting ceremony marks several years of hard work and dedication to build a sustainable and net-zero (scopes 1 and 2) plant that will be an example for the entire manufacturing industry,” said Mark Rayfield, President & CEO, Saint-Gobain North America. “This important investment will not only make Saint-Gobain North America the leader in sustainable drywall manufacturing, it will further our operations in Canada, where we remain committed to growth and providing light and sustainable building materials for all Canadians.”The project represents a major investment for the company that was conducted in partnership with both Quebec’s government and Hydro-Québec. Through the Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks’ EcoPerformance program, the Sainte-Catherine plant was granted $40M to support this energy transition and energy efficiency project.The company stated that approximately 80% of the plant’s equipment was upgraded through this three-year project and new processes were implemented to try and reduce carbon emissions:Replacing natural gas burners with electrical heating elements;Implementing real-time smart energy meters and management system;Implementing multiple heat recovery systems and upgrading equipment insulation;Adding process sensors to monitor and improve production quality;Improving compressed air design. (ICE TORONTO)

Fonte notizia: https://www.cleantechnology.ca/