EDP Renewables advances its photovoltaic deployment with the construction of its first project in France
- The photovoltaic project is EDPR’s first deployment in the country since its partnership with Kronos Solar and represents the first step of its commitment to produce photovoltaic electricity in France.
- The project will produce enough energy to supply around 2,400 households.
Madrid, Paris, April 18th 2023. Kronos Solar EDPR, a solar developer company based in Germany that is majority owned by EDPR, has started the construction of its first photovoltaic project in France. This project is another important milestone of the presence of EDPR in France, now contributing to the development of another renewable technology that will provide an important contribution to the French transition to cleaner energy sources.
Located in Neuilly-sur-Suize, in the Northeast of the country and in the centre of the Haute-Marne department, the new solar project will have an installed capacity of 5 MWp through more than 8,500 thousand bifacial solar photovoltaic panels, a technology that allows the solar irradiation to be harnessed from both sides of the panel, thus maximizing production.
The project will be able to produce enough electricity to supply around 2,400 households per year. This clean energy will also avoid the emission of more than 150 tons of CO2 annually in Haute-Marne, thus seizing the solar potential of the region and supporting its transition to a cleaner energy mix.
“France aims to produce 33% of its total energy from renewables, especially solar energy by 2030. Thanks to the recent partnership with Kronos and the company’s activity across the globe, EDP Renewables is set to continuing to capture growth in Solar. Our new strategy will strongly support the diversification efforts in the national electricity mix and Neuilly-sur-Suize is a perfect example. This project may be the first in construction, but it is just the pioneer of a long list to come”, highlighted Etienne Thomassin, CM of EDP Renewables in France.
EDP Renewables expects to start the construction of additional solar projects in France, reflecting the company’s dedication to accelerate the energy transition in the country and at a global level.
By the end of 2022, EDPR had an installed solar power capacity of more than 1.6 GW distributed in more than 7 markets worldwide. EDPR continues to diversify its technologies with solar installations playing a key role as they already represent 12% of the company’s total portfolio.
In its revised business plan, EDP Renewables has pledged to invest 20 billion euros by 2026 to boost renewable energy production, 40% of which will be allocated to onshore technologies in European countries. The company also wants to achieve a technology mix in which photovoltaic electricity accounts for half – 40% in utility scale installation and 10% in distributed solar equipment.
About Kronos Solar EDPR
Kronos Solar EDPR is a solar developer company based in Germany and with operations in other three European countries – Netherlands, UK, and France -, in which EDP Renewables acquired a 70% stake in 2022. Germany, that is Kronos’ domestic market, represents close to 50% of the acquired solar development portfolio.
EDP Renewables (Euronext: EDPR) is the fourth largest wind and solar energy producer worldwide with presence in 28 markets across Europe, North America, South America, and Asia Pacific. Based in Madrid and with main regional offices in Houston, São Paulo, and Singapore, EDPR has a robust development portfolio with first class assets and a market-leading operational capability in renewables. Wind onshore, utility scale & distributed solar, wind offshore (through its 50/50 JV – OW) and technologies complementary to renewables, such as batteries and green hydrogen.
EDPR is a division of EDP (Euronext: EDP), a leader in the energy transition with a focus on decarbonization. Besides its strong presence in renewables (with EDPR and hydro operations), EDP has an integrated utility presence in Portugal, Spain and Brazil including electricity networks, client solutions and energy management.
