Neoen, Alight sign 90MW solar power play with H&M – EQ Mag
Construction of the project at Hultsfred airport in Sweden is planned for the second half of 2023
Neoen and Swedish solar developer Alight have signed a power purchase agreement (PPA), covering 90MW of solar, with Swedish fashion retailer H&M Group.
Construction is planned for the second half of 2023, with commissioning to follow in 2025.
Under the long-term agreement, the solar park, located in Hultsfred, Sweden, will provide H&M Group with local renewable energy and guarantees of origin.
The deal is the largest solar PPA contracted in Sweden to date, Neoen and Alight stated.
Jointly developed and owned by Neoen (majority shareholder) and Alight, the project will be built using photovoltaic panels to be installed around the runway of Hultsfred airport, in the south-east of Sweden.
H&M Group has set a goal to reduce the company’s absolute scope 1 and 2 emissions and its scope 3 emissions by 56% both by 2030 and from a 2019 baseline and to increase the annual sourcing of renewable electricity to 100% by 2030.
As part of the company’s green investments, PPAs play a “very important” role in the company’s climate work to achieve its targets.
Ulrika Leverenz, Head of Green Investment of H&M Group, said: “We are very excited to see Hultsfred’s solar park becoming a reality in the near future.
“Business and countries must show leadership to limit global warming to 1.5°C according to what the climate science urges us to do.
“Power purchase agreements like this one with Neoen and Alight bring us one step closer to meet our ambitious climate goals and increase the availability of clean energy in the country.”
Meanwhile, in France Neoen has been awarded 180MW in the technology-neutral call for tenders (PPE2) held by the French government and supervised by the energy regulation commission (CRE).
The 180MW is split between 11 projects ranging from 12MW to 22.8MW and Neoen is the majority shareholder of each project.
The projects comprise two solar schemes, both located in the Grand Est region.
The Isle-sur Marne (19.3MW, Marne) and Morhange 2 (22.8MW, Moselle) plants rehabilitate respectively a former quarry and disused military land.
Construction is scheduled to begin in 2023. Morhange 2 is an extension of Neoen’s photovoltaic farm located in the same municipality.
Nine wind farm projects with combined power of 137.8 MW are included in the capacity awarded.
They are located in Nouvelle-Aquitaine (Creuse, Vienne and Haute-Vienne), Normandie (Seine-Maritime and Eure), Grand Est (Ardennes), Bourgogne – Franche Comté (Yonne), and Pays de la Loire (Sarthe).
Construction of the farm in Vesly (Eure, 12MW) is ready to begin, while the other eight projects, with a combined power of 125.8MW, have already obtained the necessary building permits but are subject to administrative disputes.
Construction can commence once these procedures have run their course.
Source: renews
