"France 2030" is an ambitious investment plan launched in 2021 by the French government, with an initial budget of €54 billion (increased to €66 billion) to support the country's ecological, technological, and industrial transformation. This program aims to strengthen France's competitiveness and prepare its economy for the major challenges of the future, including energy transition, support for innovation, and technological and industrial sovereignty.
But what impact will "France 2030" have on the construction sector?
Key objectives of "France 2030"
As a reminder, the "France 2030" plan is based on clearly defined objectives to promote innovation and sustainability:
- Ecological and energy transition :
- Develop green technologies such as renewable energies and carbon-free hydrogen.
- Supporting the production of electric and hybrid vehicles to reduce CO₂ emissions.
- Accelerate the transition in the industrial, agricultural, and construction sectors, particularly through electrification and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
- Industrial and technological sovereignty :
- Strengthen France's sovereignty in strategic sectors such as semiconductors, biotechnology, space, and cybersecurity.
- Invest in research in artificial intelligence (AI), health, and life sciences to maintain a leading position in these fields.
- Economic competitiveness and job creation :
- Strengthen the competitiveness of French companies by supporting their modernization and encouraging exports.
- Create skilled jobs by stimulating growth in innovative sectors, such as advanced technologies and green industry.
France 2030 is therefore a massive investment plan designed to position France as an innovative and environmentally friendly powerhouse, while strengthening its global competitiveness. By aiming for autonomy in critical sectors and accelerating the energy transition, France hopes to respond to current global challenges and ensure sustainable and inclusive development for decades to come.
So, what impact will France 2030 have on the construction sector?
The "France 2030" plan will have a significant impact on the building construction and renovation sector, with objectives aimed at reducing CO₂ emissions, improving the energy performance of buildings, and promoting innovation in construction materials and processes. Here are the main areas of involvement:
1. Energy renovation of buildings
- Thermal renovation objectives: "France 2030" encourages the energy renovation of residential and commercial buildings to reduce their energy consumption. The goal is to achieve a low-energy building stock by modernizing older buildings, which are often energy-intensive.
- Insulation and innovative materials: Investments are planned to develop and use eco-friendly and insulating building materials (such as wood, bio-based and recycled materials) that can improve the thermal efficiency of buildings.
- Renewable energy: The plan promotes the installation of heating systems that use renewable energy (heat pumps, solar thermal and photovoltaic panels) to replace equipment powered by fossil fuels.
2. Accelerating the ecological transition in construction
- Reducing CO₂ emissions: Construction accounts for around 40% of CO₂ emissions in France, largely due to materials such as concrete and steel. "France 2030" plans to finance the development of low-emission construction techniques and materials, including low-carbon concrete, as well as technologies for recycling demolition materials.
- Promoting the circular economy: Integrating the circular economy into construction sites is becoming a priority, with processes to limit waste and reuse building materials. This involves recycling demolition materials and reducing the transport of raw materials.
3. Support for technology and digitization
- Smart buildings: The plan supports the development of smart buildings capable of autonomously managing energy consumption and adapting resources to real-time needs. Building digitization (BIM – Building Information Modeling) and IoT technologies are encouraged to optimize energy efficiency and predictive maintenance.
- Modular and printed construction: Prefabrication and modular construction, as well as 3D printing of buildings, are also technologies targeted at reducing the carbon footprint of construction and accelerating construction timelines.
4. Training and skills development
- Training for professionals: The sector will require a skilled workforce to operate new technologies and meet new environmental standards. Training and retraining initiatives are planned for construction workers to adopt new eco-friendly practices.
- Attractiveness of the sector: To address the shortage of skilled labor, the plan includes measures to make the sector more attractive, particularly by focusing on jobs related to energy renovation and sustainable materials.
5. Standards and regulations
- Compliance with RE2020 standards: The 2020 environmental regulations (RE2020) already impose strict standards on new buildings in terms ofemissions and energy consumption. "France 2030" aims to continue this momentum and extend it to existing buildings.
- Carbon neutrality objective: The plan supports progressive regulation towards carbon-neutral buildings, a challenge for 2050 for which "France 2030" intends to lay the foundations.
Finally, for the construction sector, "France 2030" represents a shift towards a more sustainable, digital, and resilient model. Energy-efficient renovation is becoming a priority, and innovation in materials, processes, and technologies will be at the heart of this transformation. Construction companies will thus have access to financing and technical support to meet the challenges of the ecological transition, while improving the working conditions and skills of their teams.
For more information:
France 2030 – Ministry of Economy, Finance, and Industry and Ministry of Budget and Public Accounts
