'In return, we get our electricity from the grid, into which Albioma feeds the energy produced,' he added. And the bagasse, the crushed canes, go to Albioma's factory,' he said, as Noel nodded in agreement. The molasses, the sugar sirup, is fed to animals or go to the nearby distillery, which produces bioethanol or alcohol with it. 'Residues such as sand and soil are scattered on adjacent farmers' fields. 'This is where we press out the sugar cane's juice,' he explained, pointing to a huge network of machines behind him. 'Our production is already sustainable and functions as a perfect cycle,' he told the group, which included Nelly Noel, Albioma's head of environmental matters and industrial risks. Nelly Noel is Albioma head of environmental matters and industrial risks On a recent Friday morning, the sugar cane factory's director, Vianney Tailamee, led a group of visitors across the site as rumbling trucks discharged huge loads of sugar cane. Adjacent to it is a sugar cane factory, run by international group Tereos and also named Bois-Rouge. One of the latter, called Bois-Rouge, is located about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) east of the capital Saint-Denis in the north of the island. The island's electricity currently stems mostly from French utility EDF's heavy oil factory in the city of Le Port in the northwest of the island, and from two power plants, owned by Albioma, which run on coal roughly six months of the year.ĮDF's factory is to function with colza and soja oil in the future, and Albioma's plants exclusively on biomass. Some media had inaccurately reported a target date of 2023, but it is still am ambitious goal. Mainland France is aiming for a renewable share of just 32% by 2030.īut not everybody agrees with Reunion's methods of achieving this goal. The local government now aims to switch to 100% renewable energy production by the end of 2028. Almost two-thirds of its electricity are produced through fossil energy sources. But the French overseas territory in the Indian Ocean is less idyllic than it seems. At first glance, Reunion Island seems like a paradise - with palm trees, lush green landscapes and a fresh sea breeze.

Reunion island