EDF Renouvelables is to supply electricity from a 20MW solar plant to SNCF Energie, a subsidiary of French rail operator SNCF Voyageurs, under a 20-year power purchase agreement.
Construction of the project, which is located in the municipalities of Lachapelle-Auzac and Souillac in the Lot department, will start in the coming months, EDF said.
Commissioning is scheduled for 2023.
The plant’s annual production will amount to 25 gigawatt-hours, which corresponds, for example, to about half of the electricity consumption required for the movement of TGVs between Paris and Lille each year, EDF said.
SNCF Voyageurs has an ambition to achieve 40% to 50% renewable energies in its mix of electricity consumption for train traction by 2025.
EDF Group chairman and chief executive Jean-Bernard Levy said: “We are very happy to sign with the SNCF group our first corporate PPA in France for a new asset.
“This success once again demonstrates our ability to offer competitive and innovative solutions to our customers in terms of energy transition.
“This contract will allow EDF to support SNCF in its commitment to the fight against climate change and paves the way for other cooperation between our groups.
“The project is in line with the CAP 2030 strategy which aims to double the renewable capacities of the EDF group from 28GW to 60GW net, between 2015 and 2030.”
SNCF chairman and chief executive Jean-Pierre Farandou said: “This signing by SNCF Energie is in line with the desire of the entire SNCF group and the railway workers to make the train the sustainable mobility solution par excellence.
“We are proud to contribute through this contract signed with the EDF group to the creation of additional solar photovoltaic capacities in France, which will contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in France and in Europe.”