The SNCF is the first industrial consumer of electricity in France with 10% of the total. As in the air, SNCF buys its energy in advance, which is called “the cover”.
For several years, the operator has sought to diversify its supply sources. The SNCF thus announced on Tuesday a strong offensive in renewable energies and in particular in solar energy.
In fact, the group has signed a direct purchase contract with Reden (photovoltaic producer) that will eventually generate 3.6% of the annual consumption of its trains, “that is, the equivalent of the annual electricity consumption of the RER D in Ile-de -France”. Remember that the SNCF runs 15,000 trains every day.
The equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of RER D
Specifically, the two groups commit themselves “to the largest ‘corporate power purchase agreement’ (PPA) ever announced in France”, that is, a renewable electricity contract between a producer and a group of consumers.
“This contract provides for the creation of 4 photovoltaic power plants for a total of 146 MW of power, which will produce 207 Gwh per year by 2025/2026”, can be read in a press release. The amount of the 25-year contract has not been disclosed.
These new power plants operated by Reden will produce green electricity that “will be sold entirely to SNCF Energie for the electricity needs of SNCF Voyageurs”. They will be built in Haute-Garonne, Aude and Gironde and will be put into service between 2024 and 2025.
This offensive in renewables does not respond to the current energy emergency with prices on the rise, says the SNCF.
Target: 40 to 50% renewable energy in 2026
“In terms of trajectory, our goal is to achieve between 40 and 50% renewable energies, including 20% of ‘corporate PPA’ contracts, in our mix of electricity consumption for the supply of trains in the 2026 horizon, of which which a 20% stake thanks to these PPA contracts,” he continues.
“With this new contract, by 2026, more than 480 GWh per year will come from photovoltaic and wind plants built under these contracts, and the goal is to have 1,100 GWh of electricity from renewable energy from corporate PPAs by 2026-2027 (that is, 20 % of our electrical needs for the traction of our trains)”, explains the operator.
As well as the ecological benefit since the SNCF assures that this contract will allow in the long term to avoid the emission of 4,207 tons of CO2 equivalent.
“With this contract, we are taking concrete steps to strengthen the stability of our supply and our share of renewable electricity. We are proud to contribute to the creation of additional solar capacity in France. It is a win-win contract: a victory for the performance of our company, a victory for the general interest”, comments Christophe Fanichet, Executive Director of SNCF Voyageurs.
Source: BFM TV
