[ad_1]
From left to right: Julien Perrier, vice-president of manufacturing for Saint-Gobain Canada; Nathalie Provost, Secretary of State for Nature; Jacques Ramsay, Member of Parliament for La Prairie-Atateken; Marie Lapierre, Consul General of France in Montreal; Jean-Claude Lasserre, CEO of Saint-Gobain Canada; Mark Rayfield, president and CEO of Saint-Gobain North America; Caroline De Vit, senior director of business development and performance at Hydro-Québec; Jocelyne Bates, mayor of Sainte-Catherine; Damien Clément, plant manager at CertainTeed Sainte-Catherine.
Saint-Gobain Canada has completed of its expansion and sustainable upgrade project at its CertainTeed gypsum plant in Sainte-Catherine, Que., transforming the facility into a zero-carbon (scopes 1 and 2) gypsum wallboard operation. First announced in 2022, Saint-Gobain completed major electrification upgrades allowing the plant to be solely powered by renewable electricity. The numerous facility upgrades also helped decrease energy usage by up to 30 percent and boost production capacity by up to 40 percent. With the new process and equipment, CertainTeed’s plant has reduced its CO2 emissions by 44,000 tons per year – equivalent to the average emissions of 14,000 cars annually. This milestone also marks the launch of a new Infinae gypsum wallboard category in Canada, within which CarbonLow, produced locally, is estimated to have up to 60 percent 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,” shared Jean-Claude Lasserre, CEO of 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 and CEO of 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 that was conducted in partnership with both Quebec’s government and Hydro-Quebec. Through the Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks’ EcoPerformance program, the Sainte-Catherine plant was granted $40 million to support this important energy transition and energy efficiency project.
“Saint-Gobain shares our government’s commitment to accelerate the energy transition and decarbonize our economy. Establishing its zero-carbon gypsum wallboard plant is a great example of this, and we are extremely proud to see this important project come to fruition here, in the riding of Sanguinet,” stated Christine Frechette, member of national assembly for Sanguinet and minister of economy, innovation and energy.
“Hydro-Quebec is proud to have contributed to the creation of the first zero-carbon gypsum wallboard plant in North America, an inspiring model for the entire industry,” commented Caroline DeVit, senior director of business development and performance at Hydro-Québec. “CertainTeed is exemplary not only in terms of energy efficiency, with a 30 percent reduction in its consumption, but also in its efforts to help reduce consumption during peak periods. To achieve Quebec’s energy transition, decarbonization must be done efficiently, and this project is a concrete example of that. From the ideation phase, our experts collaborated with CertainTeed to transform an innovative vision into a sustainable and high-performing reality.”
Overall, 80 percent of the plant’s equipment was upgraded through this three-year project and new processes were implemented to significantly reduce carbon emissions:
• Replacing natural gas burners with highly efficient 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.
Additional improvements are being implemented and will be deployed in the near future to further improve sustainability at the site:
• Increasing recycled content by using pre- and post-consumer waste;
• Reducing inbound transportation of natural gypsum rock from various sources.