30 years old and still going strong
The first onshore wind power turbines installed by ENGIE in France in 1990 are now 30 years old. There are five wind turbines in the farm located in Port-La-Nouvelle in southern France. The first wind turbine to be connected to the electricity grid in 1991 was dismantled in 2019. Why? Due to ageing technology. The capacity of this wind turbine was 0.2 MW, compared with an average capacity of 3 MW on offer from today’s equivalent turbines.
96% of recycled components: one last push!
When ENGIE Green dismantled its first ENGIE wind power farm in France in 2019, 96% of the components were recycled. Just 1% by weight of the wind turbines was disposed of as waste and sent to landfill. An in the future? A new resin will soon be used to make the first 100 % recyclable blades on an industrial scale, opening the way for a circular economy, in which 100% recyclable systems will generate 100% renewable energy.
From 13 to more than 1,000 minigrids in just 10 years. Yes we can!
These affordable solar minigrids will supply energy to 2 million people living in rural Africa by 2025. The electricity produced from solar energy offers an alternative to traditional sources, such as diesel or kerosene, that meets the needs of daily life and economic development. In the pilot project in Tanzania and Zambia, 13 mini-grids were installed in 2016.
More than 10 GW under development in offshore wind farms by 2025
Ocean Winds, the new major player in offshore wind power that is co-owned by ENGIE our partner Energias de Portugal Renovais (EDPR), is heading across the Atlantic from Europe to the coast of America. Offshore wind farms produce up to twice as much wind power as onshore facilities, thanks to the size of the wind power turbines and the strength and frequency of the wind at sea.
What’s the point of a saline cavern 1 km beneath the Earth’s surface?
To run hydrogen storage tests by checking that the structure is airtight and stable. Gas storage is one of the options that are being explored to speed up the energy transition. After being kept in storage for months, or even years, the gas can then be transported to the point of use. The tests being conducted by Storengy will be followed by a commercial development phase in 2023.
In 2024, Paris will be heating up...
Maybe not at the Village for the athletes and para-athletes will be heated and cooled by geothermics. The heating and cooling systems will use local and renewable energies, 68% of which will be supplied by shallow geothermal sources, located at a depth of about 100 metres. 11 wells will be drilled in the neighbourhood to convert the Earth’s energy into heat or cold. On another scale, in 2021, ENGIE will complete the construction of a geothermal power plant in Rantau Dedap, Indonesia. With a target capacity of 240 MW, the plant will supply energy to about 480,000 households and cut carbon dioxide emissions by 1.1 million tonnes per year.
More than 100 up!
Thanks to its subsidiary SHEM (Société hydro-électrique du Midi), ENGIE has acquired one century of experience in hydroelectricity in France. This subsidiary, which built its first dam in 1910, has been awarded the Label of French Excellence for companies that are part of the country’s living heritage. ENGIE is also present in the hydroelectricity sector in the UK, Brazil and Chile, with an installed capacity of 18 GW.
Biomethane steps on the gas, targeting an output of 4 TWh of power by 2030!
ENGIE’s 126 biomethane plants will produce 4 TWh of power by 2030. And the Group has another target that is even closer. 52 plants by 2023. Biogas will clearly play an essential role in the energy transition and the decarbonization of natural gas grids. Biogas is 100% renewable and locally sourced. It also allows waste to be recycled and can even reduce the use of chemical fertilisers. All these properties have prompted ENGIE to invest in the industrial development of biogas, in particular in pioneering R&D projects.
Liquid hydrogen: a solution for today or the future?
The liquefaction of green hydrogen is a long-term solution that ENGIE is actively working on, in particular with ArianeGroup. The two partners are building a liquefier that will ultimately deliver products and services for the maritime shipping sector, which currently emits large quantities of CO2, but has started its transition to low-carbon solutions.