TotalEnergies and Veolia have announced an expansion of their partnership through a new memorandum of understanding, focusing on accelerating the transition to cleaner energy and more efficient resource use. This collaboration seeks to combine TotalEnergies’ expertise in low-carbon energy with Veolia’s proficiency in water and waste management to develop large-scale solutions aimed at reducing emissions and conserving water across various industries.
Veolia will apply its experience in managing water and waste, while TotalEnergies will focus on cutting methane emissions and providing low-carbon energy. Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, emphasised the importance of such partnerships in advancing the energy transition and circular economy, noting the potential to make tangible progress and sustainably limit environmental impacts.
A key initiative within this partnership is the potential deployment of TotalEnergies’ AUSEA drone system, which is designed to identify and measure methane leaks at landfills. Initial trials have shown that these drones can deliver consistently accurate results, aiding Veolia in its goal to capture 80% of landfill methane by 2032.
Additionally, the partnership aims to reduce TotalEnergies’ freshwater usage by 20% by 2030 compared to 2021 levels at facilities located in high-stress water areas. Building on previous work in Saudi Arabia, the companies plan to expand wastewater reuse at industrial sites, convert municipal wastewater for production processes, and employ Veolia technologies to enhance water treatment performance.
TotalEnergies will also assist Veolia in powering desalination plants with renewable energy. This follows their previous collaboration on the largest solar-powered desalination project in Oman, which serves as a model for future facilities. Veolia aims to double its desalination capacity this decade while reducing its energy footprint.
Estelle Brachlianoff, CEO of Veolia, highlighted the partnership’s focus on sustainable water management, circular economy, and methane emission reduction, underscoring the role of innovation in ecological transformation and industrial competitiveness.
This expanded partnership builds on a 2022 agreement between the two companies to produce biomethane from Veolia’s waste and water treatment facilities across more than 15 countries. Veolia contributes its expertise in biogas production and processing, while TotalEnergies brings its knowledge of the biomethane value chain. As part of this ongoing collaboration, the partners plan to pool research efforts to extract valuable materials, such as rare earth elements, from underutilised waste streams.
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