Neoen and Alight have signalled the start of construction of the 100MWp Hultsfred solar farm in Sweden.
The pair have provided notice to proceed to a consortium of Bouygues Energies & Services and Solkompaniet under an EPC turnkey contract.
Hultsfred said the largest solar project to reach construction stage in Sweden, Neoen said.
Commissioning is scheduled for 2025.
Jointly developed and owned by Neoen (majority shareholder) and Alight, Hultsfred solar farm will be connected to the E.ON local grid distribution system, in Hultsfred, Småland, south-east Sweden.
The farm will be built using low-carbon photovoltaic panels installed around the runway of Hultsfred airport (pictured).
It is expected to generate enough electricity to cover the consumption of over 18,000 Swedish homes.
The project is underpinned by a long-term PPA signed end of 2022 with H&M Group, under which the solar farm will provide the Swedish fashion chain with 95% of the renewable energy and guarantees of origin produced.
The agreement will play an important role in H&M Group’s goal to only source renewable electricity by 2030 at the latest.
Laetitia Prot, head of business development for Neoen Sweden, said: “I would like to congratulate our development partner Alight, and our contractors Bouygues Energies & Services and Solkompaniet for this great achievement.
“Hultsfred solar farm will be our third Swedish asset after Storbränkullen wind farm and Storen Power Reserve battery: our three-pronged, long-term approach is an ideal response to Sweden’s need for a secure supply of competitive, local, renewable energy, as it transitions to a net-zero carbon economy by 2045.”
Harald Överholm, chief executive of Alight, added: “It is exciting to move the Hultsfred solar farm into the construction phase, made possible by our fantastic collaboration with Neoen, E.ON, H&M Group, Bouygues and Solkompaniet.
“As the largest solar project in Sweden to date, it is not only in line with Alight’s mission to add more green megawatts to the grid, but it is a remarkable step forward for the country as a whole, as it accelerates the transition to a more sustainable future.”