The world’s biggest commercial airliner manufacturer is connecting with a fellow European energy company to decarbonize all of its industrial sites on the continent.
Pan European plane maker Airbus has contracted French firm ENGIE to deliver decarbonization strategies across all 22 of the Airbus industrial sites in Europe. The two companies signed this long-term agreement at the Paris Air Show.
Airbus, which along with U.S.-based Boeing comprises the world’s top civilian airline manufacturers, hopes to cut its energy consumption by 20% and reduce its Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 85% by 2030 compared to 2015 levels. The first phase of that work begins this summer by developing decarbonization roadmaps for each site.
“We are delighted to take this next step in decarbonising our sites with ENGIE. As a trusted partner, ENGIE will help us significantly reduce energy consumption and industrial emissions at our European sites by 2030,” Julie Kitcher, Airbus chief sustainability officer, said in a statement. “The combination of Airbus's on-the-ground expertise and ENGIE's technical expertise will be a winning formula for achieving our goals.”
Among the key strategies being pursued by Airbus and ENGIE include decarbonization of heat production, which will include installation of electric heat pumps and biomass boilers. The facilities also will be fitted with energy-efficiency technologies such as low-energy-consumption lamps and smart metering systems, while solar panels will be installed on shade structures, roofs and open grounds.
ENGIE will operate and maintain the new energy infrastructure assets with commissioning schedule no later than 2029.
Airbus, which has headquarters in France and the Netherlands, manufacturers its airplanes across multiple countries. The company delivered nearly 650 aircraft units in 2024, according to reports.
Boeing, meanwhile, has pursued its own decarbonization strategy including investments in development of sustainable aviation fuel. In 2023, the U.S. plane maker joined the global Net Zero Coalition.
