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Imagine a world where industry no longer equals pollution. That’s the bold challenge taken on by My Vosges, a French startup specializing in biocarbon production. Their mission? To revolutionize metallurgy by offering a renewable alternative to fossil coal.
Biocarbon: The New Green Gold for Industry
What exactly is biocarbon? It’s a material produced through the pyrolysis of wood residues, such as forest thinning products or sawmill by-products. This thermal transformation process creates a renewable equivalent to fossil coal, traditionally used as a reducing agent in metallurgy.
Why switch to biocarbon? Simply because it has a much lower CO2 footprint. According to Philippe Soler-My, CFO of My Vosges, biocarbon emits 2.5 to 2.8 times less greenhouse gases compared to fossil fuels, an attractive option for industries aiming to reduce their carbon emissions.
A €50 Million Investment
To achieve its goal, My Vosges will build its first biocarbon production plant in Chavelot, near Épinal. The project, with an investment of €50 million, was selected as part of the “First Factory” call for projects under the France 2030 plan.
The facility, with an initial capacity of 20,000 tons per year, can eventually double its output. It is scheduled to begin operations in 2026, creating around 50 jobs in the region, with wood sourced locally within a 70 km radius.
Building on Soler Group’s Experience
My Vosges is a spin-off from the Soler Group, a family-run SME based in Gyé-sur-Seine, specializing in eco-friendly charcoal production. With 200 employees and a revenue of €41 million in 2023, Soler has a long history of biomass valorization.
Thanks to this expertise, My Vosges successfully completed its initial trials. In early 2024, several thousand tons of biocarbon were exported to Iceland for silicon metal production, confirming the potential of this green material.
Looking to the U.S. Market
Building on these early successes, My Vosges plans to tap into the American market, with its generous green transition incentives such as the Inflation Reduction Act, which offers $400 billion in support.
Although a U.S. project is under consideration, the current focus is on the Chavelot site, supported by grants and loans from France 2030. This will accelerate the development of this promising French player in industrial decarbonization.
An Innovative Path to a Sustainable Industry
With its first biocarbon production plant, My Vosges aims to set the stage for a more sustainable metallurgy industry. It’s a bold bet, but one that could pay off, as industries look for ways to decarbonize. Could French-made green charcoal become the new go-to material for responsible steelmaking?
