France: SNCF signs two 25-year solar contracts with Octopus and BayWa r.e.

SNCF Voyageurs secures direct solar electricity supply from two plants owned by Octopus Energy and BayWa r.e., through 25-year agreements aimed at powering its rail network.

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SNCF Énergie has signed two Corporate Power Purchase Agreements (CPPAs) with Octopus Energy Generation and BayWa r.e. to supply renewable electricity to SNCF Voyageurs. The two solar parks involved, Greenberry and Fontenet 3, will deliver more than 100 GWh annually, totalling 2.5 TWh over the contract period.

Dedicated and secured railway power supply

Located on former military sites in Centre-Val de Loire and Nouvelle-Aquitaine, the plants were developed by BayWa r.e. before being acquired by the Sky fund managed by Octopus Energy Generation (Octopus Renewable Infrastructure SCSp). The capacity will cover the energy equivalent of 15,500 annual TGV trips between Paris and Rennes. These are the first CPPAs signed in France by Octopus and BayWa r.e.

A tool for SNCF’s energy targets

These agreements are part of SNCF Voyageurs’ plan to cover 20% of its electricity needs through CPPAs by 2030. The rail group aims to increase the overall share of renewable energy used for its trains to between 40% and 50% within the same timeframe. SNCF Voyageurs transports nearly 5 million passengers daily, making it one of France’s largest industrial electricity consumers.

Industrial partners expanding in the market

Octopus Energy already operates more than 500 MW of renewable capacity in France across solar and wind projects and supplies electricity to over 600,000 households. BayWa r.e. currently manages 1.3 GW of renewable assets in the country, with 410 MW already installed since it began operations in 2005.

Richard Fécamp, Managing Director of SNCF Énergie, stated that these agreements marked “”a decisive step”” toward the group’s energy ambitions, highlighting their importance in the context of decarbonisation targets.

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