Orange has deployed and commissioned a new solar plant at its Ivory Coast data center.

The telco’s Tier III-certified GOS (Groupement Orange Services) data center was built in 2016 in Grand Bassam, Côte d'Ivoire, on a site covering 16,600 sqm (179,000 sq ft) and offers 1.3MW of capacity; it hosts IT and telecommunication equipment supporting services for all 18 of the company’s African & Middle Eastern subsidiaries.

First announced in January 2022, the company this month said the new photovoltaic power plant on the site features 781 panels covering the facility roof, grounds, and on canopies of solar car parks, with a total installed power of 355kWp.

Though only announced this month, Orange said the solar plant has been in operation since October 2022. The company said it is now possible to cover 50 percent of the daytime consumption (7am to 6pm) of the data center.

The solar park was originally being developed in partnership with Engie, until the company sold 17 African subsidiaries to Dubai-based Butec in 2022, which took over development.

Brelotte BA, deputy managing director of Orange Middle East and Africa, said: "This achievement is a first in West Africa for Orange in terms of its size and scope and a fine proof that illustrates our ambition to accelerate our projects related to solar and thus achieve net zero carbon by 2040. This solar power plant and the use of energy purchased from the Compagnie Ivoirienne d'Electricité allows us to achieve a renewable energy rate of 48 percent on the GOS, in line with the ambitions of the Orange Group."

Armand Seya, managing director West Africa of Butec Energies & Services, added: “This strategic project for the Orange Group is also strategic for the Butec Group, since in line with its ambitions to develop service businesses in Africa, more specifically in renewable energies. Butec Energies & Services reaffirms through the financing, engineering and construction of this work, its desire to support the energy transition in West Africa through reliable and innovative projects.”

Orange aims to be carbon neutral by 2040. The telco has also placed solar panels on the roofs of its Polish data centers as well as at its French teleport. Orange has entered into Power Purchase Agreements with Boralex, Engie, and TotalEnergies to cover the energy consumption of its French data centers and with Enertrag for its Polish operations.