Our Mission
Our purpose:
Improve global environment, foster local development
Our 3 Mission-driven Objectives:
#1 Act for the production of a renewable energy accessible to the many
#2 Contribute with the local population to the sustainable development of territories
#3 Make the best out the planet resources, in a sustainable way
We participate in the fight against climate change
Voltalia’s business is a direct lever for climate action. As an independent producer and service provider for renewable energy production, the company is actively involved in the fight against climate change and avoids tons of CO2 emissions through energy decarbonization.
Supporting our clients in their energy transition
Voltalia diversifies its activities in order to complement its services and support its customers in their efforts to reduce their environmental impact. Whether managing wind and solar assets (Greensolver), recovering submerged forests (Triton) or extending the useful life of turbines (MyWindParts), we are benefiting the climate by continuously strengthening our expertise in renewable energies. Helexia specialises in solar roofs and in customised energy efficiency and optimisation solutions and supports companies in terms of their strategy to reduce their carbon footprint.
Improving the way we measure our impact on the climate
To calculate more accurately and reliably the emissions avoided thanks to our green energy production, we are improving how we measure our performance indicators. We therefore developed an internal tool for calculating avoided emissions, which was reviewed and certified by ekodev, an independent third party.
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- 2.37 GW installed capacity (Objective 2027: > 5GW)
- 4.3 TWh of renewable electricity produced
- 1,643 kt of CO2 equivalent avoided (Objective 2027 : > 4 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent avoided)
- 87% of revenues aligned with European taxonomy regulations
- 64% of MW under development in non-OECD countries
| Our CO2 avoided internal tool certified | |
| The internal tool, developed in 2021, to calculate the estimated avoided emissions of projects under development (based on the same calculation methodology and emissions factors as Voltalia’s avoided emissions calculation) was also certified by ekodev in 2022. To know more about this project, you can click on the dedicated article on our Mission Blog. |
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| Raising employee awareness on climate change | |
| Since 2021, Voltalia has been deploying the Climate Fresco with its employees to raise their awareness on the causes and consequences of climate disruption. The Climate Fresco is a collaborative three-hour workshop that helps us understand the essentials of climate issues in order to take action. This is now a mandatory part of induction seminars for French employees. |
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We strengthen access to competitive green energy
The renewable energy produced by the power plants developed, built or operated by Voltalia, on its own behalf or on behalf of its customers, provides end consumers (individuals, companies or public administrations) with access to electricity that is often cheaper than traditional sources (coal, gas, fuel oil, nuclear).
Producing cheaper electricity
Renewable electricity has become the least expensive energy ever produced while at the same time meeting the energy security challenges of both countries and companies. Thanks to a differentiating strategy focused on non-subsidized, Voltalia increases access to high-quality renewable energy. We also want to contribute to improving the capacity and reliability of production in countries where the energy grid is not sufficiently developed and in remote areas not currently served by an existing grid.
Remaining a leader in corporate PPA
Our role is to support our clients by offering them competitive, fixed-price renewable electricity, particularly through the signing of Corporate PPAs (CPPAs). CPPAs are long-term contracts that directly tie a company to an electricity producer, such as Voltalia. As part of these contracts, the electricity producer will develop a renewable power plant specifically for the end consumer at attractive, stable long-term price conditions.
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- >93% of electricity generated by Voltalia’s power plants is competitive
- 5.5 million of equivalent people provided with our renewable electricity
- Since 2018, more than 1.4 GW of contracts were signed with Corporate power purchase agreement (CPPA)
| Oiapoque power plant in Brazil | |
| In 2021, Voltalia launched the construction of a hydropower power plant (7.5 MW) close to its hybrid power plant in Oiapoque. This new power plant, which is expected to be completed in 2024, will increase the renewable share from 25% to 75% for this set of multi-energy power plants. The Oiapoque power plant already combines a 4 MW solar unit and a 12 MW thermal unit. This power plant alone provides 100% of the electricity for a town of more than 28,000 inhabitants disconnected from the national grid, with cleaner and cheaper energy than that produced by the diesel generators used by the municipality until now. |
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| Our green electricity is providing the City of London | |
| Voltalia has completed the construction of the South Farm solar power plant in the United Kingdom, which provides the City of London with green and competitive electricity through a CPPA (Corporate power purchase agreement) . With a capacity of 49.9 megawatts, enough to supply the equivalent of 35,000 inhabitants, the plant will cover more than half of the electricity needs of the city’s prestigious business district. |
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We nurture dialogue with our stakeholders
Voltalia attaches the utmost importance to sustainable local integration in the regions where it operates. Regular dialogue with stakeholders, through the implementation of consultation mechanisms, is a systematic and voluntary approach by Voltalia to ensure optimal integration of projects in the territories.
Understand local needs and expectations
Community liaison officers are present in Brazil, France, Kenya and Albania. Their Mission is to monitor and steer the local consultation process and to establish Voltalia as a key player in the region. During the development phase, consultation enables us to identify, meet and involve local stakeholders in the project.
Managing grievances effictively
Good grievance and complaints management is important to support the smooth running of a project. In 2022, Voltalia developed a single, centralised grievance management tool applicable to projects. The tool makes it possible to monitor grievance response times and to document and consolidate the types of grievances received and the solutions proposed. The aim is to strengthen the sharing of best practices and to improve social risk management and dialogue with local communities in a sustainable way.
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- 44% of MW under construction in non-designated countries* are accompanied by a stakeholder engagement plan aligned with International Finance Corporation (IFC) standards (Objective 2027 : 100%)
- 12 community liaison officers on our different geographies
*Non-designated countries are those for which there is insufficient legislation on social and environmental management (Albania, Brazil and South-Africa in the case of Voltalia's operations)
Community liaison officers close to communities - Albania
Community liaison officers close to communities - Brazil
Community liaison officers close to communities - Kenya
Community liaison officers close to communities - South Africa
Community liaison officers close to communities - Spain
Community liaison officers close to communities - France (in French)
| Casa Voltalia | |
| Voltalia has created a place dedicated to dialogue with its stakeholders located in Serra do Mel in the state of Rio Grande Do Norte in Brazil. In addition, a complaints management system enables Voltalia to record all queries and complaints about our projects, and to respond as quickly as possible. |
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| Meet Luciana, Social Relations Specialist in Brazil | |
| "My job is to develop harmonious relations with our internal and external stakeholders, to set up and lead a space for exchange and finally to respond to the various expectations through social diagnostics, meetings with communities, the organization of institutional visits. Our biggest challenge in Brazil is the geography itself, as the projects are very far apart given the vast size of the territory." |
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| Let’s meet Wayne, our social advisor in South Africa | |
| “I am currently working on the Bolobedu Project for the construction and operation of a 148 MW solar plant in the Limpopo province. My job in Voltalia is to ensure that the social component of the Bolobedu project is compliant with South African regulations and Voltalia’s Health, Safety Environment and Social (HSES) standards. Some challenges I experienced in my job is the issues of language, since in South Africa we have 11 official languages. We often need to use interpreters to overcome the language barrier among groups in South Africa.“ |
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We contribute to local human development
Voltalia’s activities contribute to the local development by creating jobs and sustainable infrastructure and developing social and environmental projects for the benefit of local communities.
- 48% of local jobs during construction phase in Albania, Brazil and South-Africa
- 64% of MW in development located in non-OECD countries
- 129 impactful social community projects in Brazil since 2020
- 1 employee association dedicated to sustainable development projects: we@voltalia
| Transformando com Energia | |
| Voltalia has created a unique programme in Brazil: Transformando com Energia. It aims to support the skills development of the local workforce by funding free training for people in the regions where the company operates. This initiative contributes to increasing the long-term employability of local communities not only for the construction phase of the Voltalia project, but also for other opportunities in the future. The training courses offered are certified and pay particular attention to health and safety. Since its creation in 2021, this programme has already benefited 379 people with 336 graduates. To know more about this project, you can click on the dedicated article on our Mission Blog |
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| We@voltalia, Voltalia's employee association | |
| Since 2018, the association, which has 161 members in 12 countries, has contributed to the funding and implementation of social projects proposed by project-initiating employees. In 2023, the association took on new projects, notably in the city of Amman in Jordan, where the Médecins sans Frontières hospital was equipped with a solar installation to reduce energy bills, enabling financial resources to be devoted to medical activity. The hospital receives around 200 war-wounded a year from all over the Middle East. |
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We limit the environmental impact of our activities
Voltalia conducts its activities in strict compliance with national regulations and/or international standards on biodiversity, pollution prevention and natural resource management. The Group also strives to limit the climate impact of its activities throughout its power plant value chain.
Measuring and limiting our emissions
In 2022, we calculated the Carbon Footprint of our activities across our entire value chain (Scope 1, 2 and 3). Developing this skill and the associated measurement tools enables us to better monitor our emissions, identify the most significant components and implement the appropriate corrective measures. The vast majority (94%) of Voltalia’s emissions are Scope 3 and relate to the purchase of large equipment such as wind turbines and solar panels (82%).
Optimising the carbon intensity of our power plants
In 2021, our in-house Center of Expertise developed a tool for calculating the carbon footprint of solar, wind, hydro and biomass power plants to accurately estimate the specific emission factor of the plants. Maintaining this skill in-house means that Voltalia can measure the emission factors of power plant assets under development, in order to identify possible reductions in their carbon intensity. Launched in France, this tool will gradually be rolled out in all areas where Voltalia operates and tailored to the specific emission factors of each country.
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- 897 kt of CO2 emitted of which 4 % of direct emissions (scope 1)
- Definition of a Climate strategy with emission reduction targets
- -4% reduction in carbon intensity in kgCO2/MW (Scope 3) of solar power plants owned compared with 2022 (objective 2027: -35%)
First internal carbon footprint assessment
In 2022, Voltalia conducted its own carbon footprint internally for the first time based on the full carbon footprint for all the Group’s countries and activities (excluding acquisitions) for 2020. This financial year identifies the most significant emissions items and enables appropriate measures to be implemented.
| Mywindparts, a subsidiary dedicated to the second life of wind powerplants | |
| Mywindparts operate in the sale of new and reconditioned spare parts for operating wind farms. The reconditioning of parts consists, via partners, of giving used parts a second life, offering the same guarantees as for new parts. This approach also contributes to the development of the local industrial fabric. As an expert in wind energy logistics, Mywindparts also offers technical advice on procurement and inventory management and develops activities around repowering. The company works at Saint-Paul-3-Château storage site, in the Drôme, where they are currently dismantling one of two MM82 nacelles (august, 2023). To know more about this project, you can click on the dedicated article on Linkedin. |
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| Recovered wood for our biomass activities | |
| In 2022, Voltalia recovered 58,458 tonnes of wood waste to operate its biomass power plants in French Guiana (Kourou and Cacao). In addition to continuous monitoring of biomass moisture content and combustion, annual maintenance operations are also an opportunity to improve the operation of the power plants in order to optimize wood consumption. |
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We commit to the preservation of biodiversity
Voltalia is committed to the preservation of biodiversity and has implemented a voluntary approach to follow international standards and thus go beyond national legislation.
Aligning ourselves with the highest standards
Voltalia’s activities have a direct impact on the natural environment. Specific environmental studies incorporating a diagnosis of our impact on biodiversity are therefore carried out systematically and as early as possible in the project development phase. They help us to identify the avoidance, reduction and offsetting measures to be implemented during the construction and operation phases in collaboration with the most competent partners.
Limiting land-use change
We are committed to optimizing land use right from the prospecting phase, to minimize the plant’s environmental footprint and support local farming. We are developing land co-use on our solar power plants, i.e., renewable energy production combined with another activity on the same plot: rooftops of tertiary buildings and canopies for car parks (Helexia), agricultural or eco-grazing activities.
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- 44% of MW under construction on behalf of Voltalia were accompanied by environmental impact assessments aligned with International Finance Company (IFC) standards in non-designated countries* as defined by the Equator Principles Association
- 39% of the Group's installed solar MW is located on co-used land or upgraded land (objective 2027: 50%)
*Non-designated countries are those for which there is insufficient legislation on social and environmental management (Albania, Brazil and South-Africa in the case of Voltalia's operations)
| Voltalia develops land co-use for its solar power plants | |
| From the prospection phase, Voltalia strives to optimize the use of land to minimize its environmental footprint and support local agriculture. Furthermore, Voltalia now tracks the share of its solar plants with co-use of land, which means the areas used by the plants that have a dual use: roofs, parking lots, agricultural buildings, agrivoltaism and eco-pasture. One third of our solar power capacity is installed on co-used land, of which 76% is solar roofing and 24% is used for agrivoltaic and eco-pasture activities. |
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| Cabanon agrivoltaic field | |
| Commissioned in 2021, the Champ agrivoltaïque du Cabanon (Cabanon agrivoltaic field, 3 MW) is located in the Bouches-du-Rhône department in France, in the commune of Saint-Étienne-du-Grès. Since 2022, two agricultural production runs have been grown at the power plant: courgettes, melons, watermelons and lettuce in the spring, followed by chard, spinach and lettuce from September. Thanks to the panels, crops were able to benefit from shade in hot weather and from protection in bad weather. |
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