New major solar facility will produce electricity for Solvay’s plants in Tavaux and Saint Fons (France) as the Group accelerates its decarbonisation
According to the company’s website press release on September 23, 2022, Solvay and Iberdrola are teaming up on a new project that will provide green electricity for Solvay’s plants in Tavaux and Saint Fons, France. Under the agreement, 172 hectares of land will be used to build a ground-mounted photovoltaic facility. The companies plan to sign a 20-year corporate power purchase agreement to sell green electricity to Solvay plants.
The solar facility, built and operated by Iberdrola Renouvelables France, will occupy 77 hectares and comprise around 100,000 photovoltaic modules. It will produce nearly 75 gigawatts (GWh/a), making this facility one of the largest such installations in Europe. Sixty percent of the green electricity produced will be destined for Solvay’s industrial sites in Tavaux and Saint Fons in France.
“Solvay is delighted to partner with Iberdrola on this clean energy project that will significantly reduce the energy footprint of Solvay’s Specialty Polymers and Aroma businesses in France,” said Ilham Kadri, CEO of Solvay. “It’s another important step in the Solvay One Planet roadmap as Solvay continues to raise the bar and accelerate progress towards Solvay’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality.”
Ignacio Galán, Chairman and CEO of Iberdrola, said: “Building cross-sector alliances to deliver new clean energy projects continues to be an important pillar of Iberdrola’s global strategy, based on electrification through renewables, networks and storage. Businesses are taking a leading role in the energy transition and this major new solar project will deliver significant environmental and economic benefits. Iberdrola looks forward to working with Solvay and to growing Iberdrola’s relationship further in the years to come.”
The land that Solvay has dedicated for this project includes two rehabilitated settling ponds from its former Soda ash plant, located in the Herbitzheim-Willerwald-Sarralbe municipalities on both Bas-Rhin and Moselle departments, in the Grand Est region of France. The fact that this plan gives a second industrial life to brownfield land for the generation of renewable energy is also important as it accelerates the ecological conversion of the economy.
The project will also positively affect the local economy and boost employment in the area as industrial supplies for the construction will include an important local component. Local jobs will be created during the construction and operation phases. The plant is expected to go into operation by the end of 2025.
