Engie (formerly GDF Suez ) has become France's leading solar energy company with the acquisition of a majority stake in Solairedirect.
Engie has purchased a 95 per cent share in Solairedirect, which is active in the development, construction, operation, maintenance and investment of utility-scale solar parks around the world.
The deal gives Engie an installed solar PV capacity in France of 383 MW, making it France's largest solar energy company. Solairedirect has a presence in 15 countries.
"This is a crucial step forward in the implementation of our solar strategy," said Gérard Mestrallet, Engie's Chairman and CEO. "Engie has been committed to renewable energies for several years now. We already lead the French wind power market, and this deal makes us the country's number 1 in solar power too.
"We intend to strengthen these positions around the world."
Solairedirect has developed a total of 57 solar farms with a generating capacity of 486 MW. It operates a gross capacity of 224 MW in France, and is aiming to develop 125 MW of capacity per year.
In France, Engie operates 22 ground-based solar PV facilities wit a total installed capacity of 158.5 MW.
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