Orange is joining forces with ENGIE, the leading developer of solar and wind power in France, to deliver a global renewable energy supply solution in the country. This will involve creating new solar energy production capacities, managing the production of all renewable electricity capacities contracted by Orange with other producers and supplying additional volumes to cater to Orange's actual consumption.
The 15-year Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) between Orange and ENGIE covers the development of two new solar projects totalling 51 MWp in L’Epine (38 MWp) and Ribeyret (13 MWp), both located in the Hautes-Alpes region. These two solar farms will be operational by 1 January 2023 at the latest.
The regions covered by these solar projects will reap significant economic benefits: local companies will build, operate and maintain the sites, and rent will be collected and tax income generated by the facilities.
Under this agreement, ENGIE will aggregate all of the renewable energy produced by the wind farms and solar plants for which Orange France signed a power purchase agreement. Furthermore, ENGIE will put its expertise in energy management to use to deploy a continuous energy strip that caters as closely as possible to Orange's actual consumption profile.
Fabienne Dulac, Orange's Executive Vice-President and CEO of Orange France said: “Reducing our environmental footprint is a major part of Orange's strategy. By 2025, the Group plans to reduce 30% of its direct CO2 emissions compared to 2015 and reach an electricity mix made up of 50% renewable energy. Signing this agreement with ENGIE is extremely important in this regard; it illustrates our desire to be a major player in the field of power purchase agreements in France. We are proud to contribute to the country's energy transition and also proud of the economic development of the regions where new solar power facilities will be built."
“We are proud to work with Orange France on building a prosperous, sustainable and low-carbon future. This PPA contributes to increasing the share of renewables on French territory and thus contributes to achieving the ambitious objectives of the multi-year energy program. This innovative contract illustrates ENGIE's expertise across the entire renewable electricity value chain and our ambition to accelerate our clients' energy transition. ", said Rosaline Corinthien, CEO of ENGIE France Renewables.
