French energy company Engie recently announced the signing of new contracts with Google in Belgium for the direct sale of wind-generated electricity. These contracts, known as Corporate Power Purchase Agreements (cPPAs), will provide Google with 118 megawatts (MW) of capacity, or around 3.7 terawatt-hours (TWh) of energy, for its local infrastructures. This initiative is part of Google’s strategy to achieve net zero emissions from its operations by 2030. For Belgium, the project is a continuation of Brussels’ efforts to develop the wind energy sector, as evidenced by the Ostend summit in April 2023.
New Capacity and Agreement Extension
The new contracts include the supply of the entire output of four new onshore wind farms in Belgium, with a total capacity of 26 MW. In addition, an agreement was signed to extend the cPPA supply contract for an existing 92 MW wind farm in Belgium for a further eight years. This extension testifies to the trust and ongoing cooperation between Engie and Google.
Previous agreements and leadership in renewable energies
This collaboration is not the first between the two giants. By 2022, Engie and Google had already signed a 12-year contract for a 100 MW offshore wind project in Scotland. Engie has positioned itself as the leading developer of renewable energy projects for businesses, with sales of 2.4 gigawatts (GW) to industry and large energy consumers in 2023.
Engie, a leader in renewable energies
Last year, Engie signed 34 similar contracts, distinguishing itself as the only company to sign PPAs in solar, onshore and offshore wind power. Vincent Verbeke, Managing Director of Engie Belgium, expressed his pride in contributing to the economic feasibility of new investments in renewable energies, while supporting energy-intensive industries and their local roots.
Google’s Environmental Ambitions
Frédéric Descamps, head of Google in Belgium, underlined his group’s ambition to achieve zero net emissions by 2030. By continuously powering its data centers and office campuses with low-carbon energy, Google is reaffirming its commitment to environmental sustainability.
This alliance between Engie and Google in Belgium marks an important step towards a sustainable energy transition, strengthening their position as leaders in the field of renewable energies.
