The new contract between SNCF Voyageurs subsidiary, SNCF Énergie, and French and international renewable energy player, Reden, will generate enough electricity annually to power the Paris Region’s RER D line. This represents 3.6% of the electricity needed to run all our trains.

This contract for the direct purchase of renewable electricity between a power producer and a large corporate buyer—known as a corporate power purchase agreement (PPA)—is the largest ever announced in France. It is also one of the largest in Europe. The contract entails building 4 photovoltaic solar power plants with a combined capacity of 146 MW, generating 207 GWh of electricity by 2025-26.

With this corporate PPA, SNCF Group is pursuing its ambitious, proactive policy to decarbonize and expand rail transport—already the mode with the lowest carbon footprint. It is part of SNCF Voyageurs’ drive to have 40% to 50% renewables in the electricity mix consumed by its trains by 2026—with 20% supplied through corporate PPAs. To achieve this goal, subsidiary SNCF Énergie has expanded the corporate PPA program since 2018, with 8 agreements already signed.

Under this latest agreement, Reden will build, own and operate 4 new photovoltaic power plants. The totality of the electricity they generate will be sold to SNCF Énergie for use by SNCF Voyageurs. 
A solar plant with a capacity of 36 MWp¹ will be built in Haute-Garonne in southwestern France. A second, with a capacity of 21 MWp, will be erected in Aude, southern France. Finally, two more power plants with capacities of 77 Mwp¹ and 12 Mwp¹ will be built in Gironde, southwestern France. All four will be up and running in 2025.

Unlike electricity purchased from existing renewable power plants, long-term purchase agreements enable new renewable energy infrastructure to be built—which has a direct and lasting impact on France’s energy transition. Over time, this agreement will also help SNCF Voyageurs make electricity supply costs less vulnerable to market price volatility.