French industrial group Imerys has signed a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with renewable energy developer Akuo for a 195-megawatt (MW) solar project in Texas, marking its largest renewable energy contract to date in the United States.
The photovoltaic facility, to be located in Coke County, will dedicate 57 MW of capacity to power Imerys’ local operations. It is expected to generate approximately 153 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity annually, reducing the company’s global Scope 1 and 2 carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 67,000 tonnes per year, or about 3%.
“This agreement is a powerful tool to help us achieve our ambitious emissions reduction goal,” said Leah Wilson, sustainability director at Imerys. “We’re acting to decarbonise our operations and offer products with an improved environmental footprint.”
The project, named the Tennyson plant, will be Akuo’s first solar installation in the U.S., complementing its two existing wind farms in Texas. Construction is scheduled to begin shortly, with up to 400 workers and contractors expected to be employed during the build phase. Commissioning is targeted for the second half of 2026.
“The Tennyson plant demonstrates that renewable energy procurement is also a way to create sustainable value. We’re proud to support Imerys in reaching its environmental goals,” said Eric Scotto, chairman and co-founder of Akuo.
The PPA forms part of Imerys’ broader decarbonisation strategy, which includes similar renewable energy agreements in the UK, Bahrain, China, and Malaysia. The company has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 42% by 2030.
Once operational, the Tennyson plant is expected to supply at least 30% of Imerys’ annual electricity demand in the U.S. Over the lifetime of the agreement, it is projected to prevent the emission of more than 1 million tonnes of CO₂.
