The Iliad Group is a fast-growing provider of telecommunication services in Europe, with their main activities in France, Italy and Poland. Their operations as a mobile phone service provider include prepaid SIM cards, internet access and hosting services.
In early 2021, the Iliad Group started using EKOenergy-labelled electricity to power their activities in France and Italy, and some months later, they switched to 100% EKOenergy-labelled electricity in Poland too.
We are happy to announce that the Iliad Group has now closed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for EKOenergy-labelled energy with Engie. A Power Purchase Agreement is a long-term contract to buy energy from one or more specific installations. It gives the producer the financial assurance to develop their operations further, creating the possibility for increased renewable energy capacity.
Under the terms of the agreement between the Iliad Group and the project developer Engie, Iliad will buy electricity generated by the Labrit Solar Farm in the Landes region of France for the next 15 years. The Labrit Solar Farm has approximately 60,000 solar panels and produces more than 20 GWh of electricity per year.
The Labrit Solar Farm is a good example of how renewable energy development can go hand in hand with regional development and nature protection: Agreements were made with local shepherds to rear sheep on and around the solar farm, as well as with local bee-keepers to set up hives in the area.
By choosing to add the EKOenergy ecolabel to all the electricity they procure, the Iliad Group
- proves that their energy comes from facilities that have minimal impact on local biodiversity,
- shows that they think globally and act locally,
- helps us as an initiative of environmental NGOs to promote renewable energy for many sectors worldwide.
In addition, when consumers buy clean energy with the EKOenergy label, we finance new solar projects in developing countries that fight extreme energy poverty.
Published: 19 April 2023 / Photo: Engie Green and Iliad