Business · Energy & Commodities · 5 hrs ago
Nine New Aquitaine companies join a 15-year clean power deal
Nine companies in France’s New Aquitaine region are buying electricity together from a solar plant in Durance, in the Lot-et-Garonne department.
The arrangement began on August 1, 2026, and covers part of their electricity needs.
The companies have a 15-year contract for low-carbon power at a price set in advance, though the price has not been disclosed.
The idea took shape in 2022, when energy bills surged after Russia invaded Ukraine.
Long-term power contracts of this kind had previously been limited to very large companies with strong finances.
The deal is described as a first in France, offering a way for smaller businesses to secure cleaner electricity and reduce uncertainty about prices.
The Nouvelle-Aquitaine regional government helped connect companies with energy supplier Valeco, which is expanding in the region.
The deal is underway, but no further next steps are stated.
Nine companies in Nouvelle-Aquitaine have joined to buy electricity from a solar power plant under a 15-year deal.
The companies have bought part of their electricity from the plant since 1 August 2026.
The contract fixes the price in advance, but the price has not been disclosed.
Le Monde describes the multi-buyer power purchase agreement as a first in France.
The project idea emerged in 2022, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine drove up energy bills.
- Who
- Nine companies in Nouvelle-Aquitaine are participating.
- What
- They are jointly buying part of their electricity through a 15-year contract for decarbonized energy.
- When
- Purchases began on 1 August 2026.
- Where
- The electricity comes from a solar plant at Clave, in the commune of Durance, Lot-et-Garonne.
- Why
- The companies sought a way to secure energy at a price set in advance amid uncertainty and high electricity costs.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The idea emerged after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine drove up companies’ energy bills.
The Nouvelle-Aquitaine region issued a call for interest to connect companies with an energy supplier.
The nine companies began buying part of their electricity from the solar plant.
Le Monde published its report on the deal.
- Participants
- Nine companies from Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Contract length
- 15 years
- Start date
- 1 August 2026
- Power source
- Solar plant at Clave, in Durance, Lot-et-Garonne
- Contract price
- Set in advance; amount not disclosed
- Supplier
- Valeco, a subsidiary of Germany’s EnBW
What people are saying
Given the current surge in spot electricity prices, the executives taking part in the project are delighted
We were paying more than 1,000 euros per megawatt-hour instead of 180 euros, an impossible situation that threatened the very survival of our companies
We said to ourselves, along with about ten other executives, that we could buy our energy together