Lightsource BP Expands To French Market

• Lightsource bp has ventured into the French solar market under Country Head Raphaël Colas
• It aims to grow its total solar pipeline to 1 GW by 2026 comprising large scale ground mounted projects
• The plan is to participate in national tenders and also offer corporate power purchase agreements

Lightsource bp is expanding into the French solar market with a target to produce 1 GW pipeline of large scale power plants by 2026 by participating in public tenders and corporate power purchase agreements (PPA).

It will remain focused on large scale ground mounted projects that offer electricity at competitive rates over a longer time. Lightsource bp said it will be involved in the entire lifecycle of solar energy projects right from site selection, financing, permitting, long-term management of sites and sale of electricity generated.

While its current French headquarters are in Aix-en-Provence, management said expansion is planned for Bordeaux and Lyon regions as well where it will grow team.

Raphaël Colas, previously working with Engie Solar's EPC sales and business development division, has joined Lightsource bp as its French country head.

"We will invest in projects at various stages of development," shared Colas. "Some will be developed from scratch, others will be co-developed with partners. We will also invest in projects that are in the process of being appraised or that have already obtained all the necessary permits."

Recently the company announced its entry into New Zealand with local player Contact Energy in April 2022 (see Lightsource BP Launches Solar JV For New Zealand).

The British solar developer currently holds 5.4 GW of solar power capacity installed globally and is aggressively expanding as it aims to grow to 25 GW by 2025.