France

The new country manager will strengthen EDPR’s commitment to the country, where the company operates around 600 MW, between own installed capacity and operation for third parties. 





EDPR recently announced an investment of 20 billion euros in the energy transition, 40% of it dedicated to onshore technologies in Europe. 



 

EDP Renewables (Euronext: EDPR), the fourth largest wind and solar energy producer in the world, has chosen Etienne Thomassin as new General Manager of EDPR France. Etienne Thomassin has a thorough experience in the energy sector and a deep knowledge of EDPR’s vision, as he was Head of wind development at the company from 2016 to 2021. 

Etienne Thomassin, 37 years old, has an engineer degree, an executive MBA from INSEAD and an international academic background. He started his career in charity work for the Telethon in Switzerland in 2008. He specialized in energy in 2010 as project manager in the renewable energy sector working in France for Engie Green, EDF Renouvelables and Elicio. More recently, he was leading the development of Luxel, an EDF Renouvelables subsidiary specialized in ground photovoltaic projects. He was also Regional Representative for Normandy for the Syndicat des Energies Renouvelables (SER) from 2020 to 2021. 

From now on, Etienne Thomassin will manage the French and Belgian business unit, counting on a pipeline of more than 150 MW in solar projects, and more than 500 MW in wind projects. The French business unit expects to have its first solar project in operation by the end of 2023. The company has more than 120 employees in France and is deeply committed to the French energy transition. 

“The latest IPCC report makes clear that while the battle against climate change is still winnable, time is running short. In France, renewable energy additions will be essential to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and support the Government’s acceleration plan. At EDPR we are committed with France and Belgium to reach the energy transition objectives thus significantly reducing the share of fossil fuels still consumed today”, noted Etienne Thomassin, General Manager of EDP Renewables France. 

Present in 28 countries, EDPR supports the energy transition and aims to deploy more than 4GW per year in renewable projects by 2026. The company will invest 20 billion euros in the coming four years in these projects, among which 40% will be allocated to onshore technologies in European countries. 

Last year, EDPR added more than 400 MW of wind and solar production in North America and Europe, including the company’s first hybrid park and the first one commissioned in the Iberian Peninsula, combining solar and wind energy.  

About EDP Renewables (EDPR) 

EDP Renewables (Euronext:  EDPR) is the world's fourth largest producer of wind and solar energy, with a presence in 28 markets in Europe, North America, South America and Asia Pacific. Headquartered in Madrid with major regional offices in Houston, Sao Paulo and Singapore, EDPR has a solid development portfolio with quality assets and a leading operational capability in the renewable energy market. Highlights include onshore wind, distributed and large-scale solar, offshore wind (OW - through 50/50 joint venture) and complementary technologies to renewables such as storage and green hydrogen.  

EDPR's employee-focused policies have seen them named a "Top Workplace 2023" in the United States, a "Top Employer 2023" in Europe (Spain, Italy, France, Romania, Portugal and Poland), Greece, Colombia and Brazil, and inclusion in Bloomberg's Gender Equality Index. 

EDPR is a division of EDP (Euronext: EDP), a leader in the energy transition with a focus on decarbonization. Besides its strong presence in renewables (with EDPR and hydro operations), EDP has an integrated utility presence in Portugal, Spain and Brazil including electricity networks, client solutions and energy management. 

The photovoltaic project is EDPR’s first deployment in the country since the recent partnership with Kronos Solar and represents the first step of its commitment to produce photovoltaic electricity in France. 
The project will produce enough energy to supply around 2,400 households. 


 

EDPR has started the construction of its first photovoltaic project in France. This project is another important milestone of the presence of EDPR in France, now contributing to the development of another renewable technology that will provide an important contribution to the French transition to cleaner energy sources. 

 

Located in Neuilly-sur-Suize, in the Northeast of the country and in the centre of the Haute-Marne department, the new solar project will have an installed capacity of 5 MWp through more than 8,500 thousand bifacial solar photovoltaic panels, a technology that allows the solar irradiation to be harnessed from both sides of the panel, thus maximizing production.  

 

The project will be able to produce enough electricity to supply around 2,400 households per year. This clean energy will also avoid the emission of more than 150 tons of CO2 annually in Haute-Marne, thus seizing the solar potential of the region and supporting its transition to a cleaner energy mix. 

 

“France aims to produce 33% of its total energy from renewables, especially solar energy by 2030. With the recent acquisition of Kronos and the company’s activity across the globe, EDP Renewables is set to continuing to capture growth in Solar. Our new strategy will strongly support the diversification efforts in the national electricity mix and Neuilly-sur-Suize is a perfect example. This project may be the first in construction, but it is just the pioneer of a long list to come”, highlighted Etienne Thomassin, CM of EDP Renewables in France. 

 

EDP Renewables expects to start the construction of additional solar projects in France, reflecting the company’s dedication to accelerate the energy transition in the country and at a global level. 

 

By the end of 2022, EDPR had an installed solar power capacity of more than 1.6 GW distributed in more than 7 markets worldwide. EDPR continues to diversify its technologies with solar installations playing a key role as they already represent 12% of the company’s total portfolio.  

 

In its revised business plan, EDP Renewables has pledged to invest 20 billion euros by 2026 to boost renewable energy production, 40% of which will be allocated to onshore technologies in European countries. The company also wants to achieve a technology mix in which photovoltaic electricity accounts for half - 40% in utility scale installation and 10% in distributed solar equipment.  

 

About EDP Renewables 

 

EDPR is a division of EDP (Euronext: EDP), a leader in the energy transition with a focus on decarbonization. Besides its strong presence in renewables (with EDPR and hydro operations), EDP has an integrated utility presence in Portugal, Spain and Brazil including electricity networks, client solutions and energy management. 

 

EDPR's employee-centered policies have received recognition such as Top Workplace 2023 in the USA, Top Employer 2023 in Europe (Spain, Italy, France, Romania, Greece, Portugal and Poland) Colombia and Brazil, and are also included in the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index. 

 

EDPR is a division of EDP (Euronext: EDP), a leader in the energy transition with a focus on decarbonization. Besides its strong presence in renewables (with EDPR and hydro operations), EDP has an integrated utility presence in Portugal, Spain and Brazil including electricity networks, client solutions and energy management. 

EDP Renewables applied for two projects in the recent wind tender by the Commission de Régulation de l'Énergie (CRE), that together will add over 35 MW of renewable energy to the company's portfolio. 


One of the awarded projects, the Sceaux Wind Farm, is the second-largest selected in this tender. 



Paris, 17 July 2023. EDP Renewables, leading global renewable company, is among the winners of the latest wind tender held by the Commission de Régulation de l'Énergie (CRE), securing over 35 MW of installed capacity to deploy in the coming years.  

EDPR has been granted a 20-year contract-for-difference (CfD) for two projects: the Sceaux Wind Farm (to be developed in Normandy) and the Grands Bails Wind Farm (that will be constructed in Hauts de France). 

The Sceaux project will consist of seven wind turbines that will be located in the municipalities of Londinières and Wanchy-Capval in Seine-Maritime. With a total of 29.4 MW, the turbines will generate up to 59 GWh per year, providing enough clean electricity to supply over 10,000 households. The Sceaux project fully aligns with the energy transition of the Seine-Maritime department and contributes to the national objectives of greenhouse gas emissions reduction. The park will avoid more than 25,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually. EDP Renewables expects to put this project in operation by 2025. 

The Grands Bails project features 3.45 MW and will be in the municipality of Montloué in Aisne. It will produce over 10 GWh per year and can supply low-carbon energy to around 2,000 households annually. Through this project, more than 4,000 tons of CO2 emissions will be avoided annually.  

The allocation of these projects to EDPR is part of an auction that was initially planned for a volume of 925 MW but ended up reaching more than 1,1 GW, showing the positive momentum towards the energy transition in the French market. 

"The wind energy’s competitiveness in our electricity market is growing by every tender. The final capacity bided and the average weighted price of the total allocated volume proves it. Not only renewables provide a clean energy source but it also holds attractive economic potential. We are happy that France is dedicated to fostering innovation and renewable energy development at this crucial decade for the sustainability of our economies, and we are committed to supporting the country on its journey towards energy transition”, states Etienne Thomassin, EDPR’s Country Manager for France. 

Present in the country for over 15 years, EDP Renewables boasts an installed capacity of over 200 MW. Additionally, in 2023 the company has started the construction of its inaugural photovoltaic project in the country in collaboration with Kronos Solar. 

 

About EDP Renewables (EDPR) 

EDP Renewables (Euronext: EDPR) is the world’s fourth-largest producer of wind and solar energy, and is present in 28 markets in Europe, North America, South America and Asia-Pacific. With headquarters in Madrid and leading regional offices in Houston, São Paulo and Singapore, EDPR has a sound development portfolio of top-level assets and market-leading operating capacity in renewable energies. Particularly worthy of note are onshore wind, distributed and large-scale solar, offshore wind (OW - through a 50/50 joint venture), and technologies to complement renewables such as storage and green hydrogen. 

EDPR's employee-centered policies have received recognition such as Top Workplace 2023 in the USA, Top Employer 2023 in Europe (Spain, Italy, France, Romania, Greece, Portugal and Poland) Colombia and Brazil, and are also included in the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index. 

EDPR is a division of EDP (Euronext: EDP), a leader in the energy transition with a focus on decarbonization. Besides its strong presence in renewables (with EDPR and hydro operations), EDP has an integrated utility presence in Portugal, Spain and Brazil including electricity networks, client solutions and energy management. 

EDP – EDPR’s main shareholder – has been listed on the Dow Jones Index for 14 consecutive years, recently being named the most sustainable electricity company on the Index.