TotalEnergies is to develop solar farms totalling 160MW and energy storage with 340 megawatt-hours of capacity in New Caledonia.
The projects will deliver electricity via a 25-year renewable power purchase agreement for the industrial operations of mining and metallurgy consortium Prony Resources New Caledonia.
TotalEnergies will develop the projects between 2022 and 2025 in successive phases.
Most of the installations will be located on property owned by the Grand Sud hydrometallurgical plant.
The first 30MW facility is scheduled to come online in 2023.
Ultimately, the project will cover nearly two-thirds of the site’s electricity needs and will help avoid close to 230,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
The project strengthens Prony Resources New Caledonia’s ambition of achieving carbon neutrality by 2040.
TotalEnergies Renewables France chief executive Thierry Muller said: “Prony Resources New Caledonia’s commitment to decarbonization is both ambitious and pioneering in the industry.
“We are very proud to support their energy transition, and that of New Caledonia. As industrial firms, we think and act responsibly.
“Our two companies are committed to protecting natural resources and biodiversity, and to improving the situation of local communities.
“With this long-term partnership, we are demonstrating that it is possible to support industrial activity in New Caledonia and participate in a sustainable development approach at the same time.”
Prony Resources New Caledonia chairman Antonin Beurrier said: “Certainly, one of the most important pathways in our industrial transformation – an orderly and assertive transition of our energy mix towards renewables – allows Prony Resources to ensure that its electric vehicle battery manufacturer customers are supplied with high environmental quality nickel and cobalt while contributing to New Caledonia’s sustainable development.
“The choice of TotalEnergies brings in world-class industrial expertise and opens the door to exciting opportunities and innovations in the years ahead.”