Telco Orange has signed a virtual Power Purchase Agreement (vPPA) with Engie to procure solar energy in Romania.
Orange Romania Group this week announced the six-year deal, which will cover 30GWh of the telco’s annual electricity needs with green energy from solar technology.
"We are aligned with the objectives of the Orange Group and continue to integrate sustainability at the heart of our actions, in order to reduce our impact on the environment. The signing of the vPPA contract with Engie Romania is another important step in the long-term commitment that Orange has assumed, to contribute to the sustainable development of society,” said Liudmila Climoc, CEO of Orange Romania.
Orange aims to be net zero carbon by 2040. Within the country, the company aims to install solar panels on 300 network sites and four communication interconnection centers and data centers. To date, 650 solar panels have been installed on three interconnection centers in Constanța, Brașov, and Timişoara and 133 network sites.
In Europe, the company has deployed solar panels at two data centers in Poland in Łódź and Warsaw; and at its Bercenay-en-Othe teleport in France. In Africa, Orange is deploying solar at data centers in the Ivory Coast – in Yamoussoukro and Grand Bassam – and Burkina Faso in Ouagadougou.
Orange previously signed two PPAs in Poland, and solar PPAs in France with Total and Engie totaling more than 130MW. Last year also saw Orange launch a €50 million ($56.3m) carbon fund to finance reforestation and ecological restoration projects.
