Total Quadran, the renewable energy arm of Total of France, has said it won 136.6 MW solar power capacity in France in the seventh round of the French Energy Regulatory Commission's tender dubbed as CRE 4.7. This includes 131 MW of ground mounted solar park capacity and 5.6 MW of solar in the French Overseas departments and collectivities.
Projects that have landed in Total Quadran's kitty include a 50 MW ground mounted solar power plant in Valenciennes which the company claims is not only its biggest solar plant to date, but also the largest project awarded in this call for tenders. Total will install the 50 MW project on its former refinery site and on accomplishing commercial operations, it will supply green electricity to some 32,000 people.
Yet another project won by the renewable energy developer and producer is a 25 MW plant to be located near Grandpuits refinery as the 'largest' in the Greater Paris Region. Both the 50 MW and 25 MW solar projects are scheduled to come online in 2022.
Other projects include 3 MW Lavera in Bouches-du-Rhône, 5 MW Serpaize and 4 MW Brignoud both in Isère, all located on industrial brownfield sites.
The company shares more than half the capacities awarded fall under Total's program to solarize its industrial facilities and reuse of industrial brownfield sites.
The French energy giant is aiming for low-carbon electricity solutions to account for 15% to 20% of its sales mix by 2040 and for renewables its target is to reach 25 GW of installed renewable power generation capacity by 2025. Of some 7 GW what it calls low-carbon capacity in its portfolio currently, 3 GW comes from renewables. Since the beginning of 2020, Total claims to have announced more than 6 GW of solar projects.
Earlier this month, Engie, Boralex and Neoen claimed to have won 165 MW, 27.9 MW and 66 MW of solar power in the CRE 4.7 French auction.