Orange SA, the French telecommunications powerhouse, has inked a deal with compatriot solar-storage developer ZE Energy to source electricity from a 77-megawatt peak (MWp) solar park under construction in southwestern France.
Announcing the corporate power purchase agreement (CPPA) on Tuesday, Orange disclosed plans to procure 90 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity over 15 years to power its networks and infrastructure facilities.
The solar park, currently under development in Vert, located in the Landes department of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, will cover 60 hectares of municipal land. In addition to solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, the complex will integrate a battery energy storage system with a capacity of 14.8 megawatts (MW) and 33.5 megawatt-hours (MWh).
Expected to be operational in early 2025, the Vert hybrid park will be connected to the Enedis network, providing a reliable source of renewable energy to Orange.
Jean-Francois Fallacher, CEO of Orange France, emphasized the significance of the CPPA, stating, “This type of PPA guarantees us competitive renewable energy and also allows, thanks to batteries, to store it when there is a surplus in order to avoid losses.”
In a separate announcement, ZE Energy revealed securing EUR 52 million (USD 56.2 million) in senior debt financing for the Vert project from Bpi France and Caisse d'Epargne Ile-de-France. The total investment for the scheme is estimated at EUR 84 million, underscoring the commitment to advancing renewable energy infrastructure in France.
