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PPAs – Integrated Solutions for a New Era of Energy Demand

The corporate renewable energy market is entering a new phase defined by scale, speed, and complexity. What began as a way for companies to offset electricity use has evolved into something far more strategic: designing integrated energy systems capable of powering hyperscale digital infrastructure.

Artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and data centers are driving a surge in electricity demand that is reshaping how companies procure clean power. In response, corporate power purchase agreements (cPPAs) are moving beyond single-project contracts toward large, hybrid energy portfolios capable of delivering reliable, round-the-clock power.

ENGIE sits at the center of this transformation. We ranked as the world’s leading supplier of renewable corporate PPAs in 2025 and cumulatively since 2011, signing 3.6 gigawatts of cPPAs globally in 2025 alone. The United States is a key market, accounting for roughly half of that volume, with technology companies and data center operators driving about 80 percent of ENGIE’s U.S. corporate PPAs.

As hyperscale computing expands, contract size and structure are evolving. Agreements are becoming larger and more complex — often extending around 15 years — and the market is shifting from renewable procurement to energy system design.

Early cPPAs were typically tied to a single solar or wind project designed to offset annual electricity use. Today’s buyers require integrated portfolios that combine multiple technologies, locations, and contract structures to support continuous, large-scale demand. Increasingly, companies are securing multi-gigawatt portfolios across multiple projects to scale supply quickly and align with future growth.

At the same time, corporate buyers are adopting more sophisticated approaches to managing risk. Single-asset PPAs can expose companies to curtailment, negative pricing, and regional basis risk. In response, hybrid solutions — such as solar paired with storage or wind-solar combinations — are gaining traction, offering more stable and predictable energy profiles.

This shift also reflects a move toward more granular energy accounting. Many companies are moving beyond annual energy matching and instead aligning electricity use with generation on an hourly or seasonal basis. That increases the importance of diversified portfolios that can deliver power across different times of day and seasons, and is accelerating demand for resources capable of providing near‑24/7 coverage.

Data center procurement stands apart in both scale and sophistication. Large technology companies often engage directly with developers on permitting, interconnection, and regulatory challenges, resulting in more complex, tailored agreements designed to support major infrastructure investments.

The buyer landscape is also expanding. Rising electricity prices are leading some companies to contract with existing projects, while smaller buyers are entering the market through aggregated procurement structures that combine demand to reach scale.

For developers, these trends increase both opportunity and complexity. Success increasingly requires expertise in project development, financing, and risk management, along with the ability to deliver integrated solutions that combine generation, storage, and structured energy products.

Looking ahead, the market is likely to shift toward fewer but significantly larger transactions as electricity demand from AI and digital infrastructure accelerates. Co-location of renewable generation with data centers is also expected to grow, helping address transmission constraints and improve efficiency.

ENGIE’s global leadership in corporate PPAs positions it to help customers navigate this transition. By integrating renewable generation, storage, and structured energy solutions, ENGIE is enabling companies to build the energy systems needed to power the next generation of digital infrastructure

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Energy Storage is Rewriting the Rules of the Grid

For years, energy storage was framed as a promising but secondary technology that would eventually help enable a cleaner, more flexible grid. That framing is now obsolete. The latest data from both grid operators and industry reports makes one thing clear: energy storage is no longer emerging. It’s essential infrastructure.

In 2025, U.S. energy storage hit a record 18.9 gigawatts of battery energy storage system installations, a 52% increase over 2024. Batteries also have played a major role in new generation coming online in markets like Texas. That level of deployment is not incremental; it marks a structural shift. Storage is no longer an accessory to the grid. It’s become one of its core components.

This shift reflects a deeper transformation in how the grid itself operates. Reliability is no longer defined solely by large, always-on resources. Instead, it’s increasingly about flexibility, or how quickly and precisely the system can respond to changing conditions. Batteries excel in this role. They can ramp up instantly, absorb excess generation, and discharge during peak demand, helping stabilize a system that is becoming more dynamic by the year.

That transformation is being driven in large part by accelerating electricity demand. After years of relatively flat growth, power consumption is rising again, fueled by data centers, electrification, and domestic manufacturing.

In markets like ERCOT, demand has been growing at roughly 5 percent annually. Meeting that growth reliably requires more than just adding generation. It requires resources that can manage volatility in real time. Storage is increasingly serving as that shock absorber.

In ERCOT, of the roughly 62,000 MW of new generation that came online between 2021 and 2025, about 16,000 MW came from battery energy storage, making storage the second largest contributor in added generation behind solar. This underscores how storage is now central to ERCOT’s supply portfolio.

At the same time, storage is reshaping how renewable energy is deployed. The rapid rise of hybrid solar-plus-storage projects signals a new default for project development. Pairing these technologies improves economics, increases capacity value, and allows renewable energy to be delivered when it is actually needed, not just when it is generated. What was once considered a workaround is now a design principle.

Even so, the rise of storage doesn’t eliminate the need for other forms of generation. In fact, battery systems are explicitly designed to support and enhance all forms of power generation. They are exceptionally effective at managing short-term fluctuations and peak demand, enabling dispatchable resources to run more consistently during prolonged periods of high load or system stress.

The resilience of storage growth is also striking given broader market uncertainty. While clean energy procurement slowed in parts of 2025 due to policy and trade headwinds, storage deployment continued to accelerate, with a particularly strong surge in the fourth quarter. That divergence suggests something important: storage is no longer a discretionary investment. It’s becoming a necessity for grid operators, utilities, and large energy users alike.

And while early growth was concentrated in a handful of states, the market is now expanding. New storage projects are coming online across more than a dozen states, reflecting a broader recognition of its value. This is no longer a regional story; it’s increasingly a national one.

Looking ahead, the trajectory is clear. With tens of gigawatts in development and forecasts projecting massive growth through the end of the decade, energy storage is not just scaling — it’s accelerating.

The question is no longer whether storage will play a central role in the grid. It already does. The focus now shifts to how we integrate, scale, and optimize it as a foundational part of the system.

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ENGIE: the world’s number one in renewable electricity purchase agreements with businesses

  • ENGIE ranks as the world’s number one supplier of energy for renewable corporate Power Purchase Agreements (cPPAs).
    3.6 GW signed in 2025 in this category, according to BloombergNEF’s annual benchmark review.

  • ENGIE has contracted 13.8 GW of cPPA since 2011, making the Group the global leader for the entire period from 2011 to 2025.

  • Confirmation of the Group’s leadership and the resilience of its renewable energy growth model.

This success has been driven by several major transactions concluded with leading tech players, including Apple, Google and Meta, as well as the ongoing expansion of its B2B customer base. This now includes manufacturing, agrifood, transport and logistics, retail, and business services.


ENGIE, a pioneer in the cPPA market for over a decade, leverages a portfolio of renewable and flexible assets, combining wind, solar and storage solutions, including batteries, to drive its performance and benefits from the Group’s balanced geographical presence. With a strong historical presence in this market in Europe, Latin America, and the United States, ENGIE intends to continue its growth by making cPPA more accessible to a growing number of businesses and exploring new high-potential countries, such as India.


Edouard Neviaski, Executive Vice President in charge of GBU Supply & Energy Management, explains: “ENGIE’s outstanding performance on the cPPA market reflects our clients’ growing interest in securing their long-term energy supplies, even amid a softening market. The continued trust they place in us to support them in their decarbonization efforts is both a strong recognition and a powerful driver for the daily commitment of ENGIE’s teams.”


ENGIE continues to innovate with the development of its 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy renewable electricity supply solution, which exceeds the scope of annual green energy sourcing. This offer matches site consumption hour by hour with generation from dedicated, local renewable and flexible assets. It thus guarantees traceable electricity while contributing to grid resilience.

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ENGIE and Ares Partnership Further Expands with Addition of 730 MW Portfolio of New U.S. Solar and Wind Assets

HOUSTON, Jan. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ENGIE North America (ENGIE) announced that it has further expanded its partnership with Ares Infrastructure Opportunities funds (Ares) with an additional 730 MW (0.730 GW) portfolio. ENGIE will retain a controlling share in the portfolio and will continue to operate and manage the assets.

The portfolio consists of one additional wind and two solar projects in operation across ERCOT, Texas’ electric grid operator.

“The continued growth of our relationship with Ares reflects the strength of ENGIE’s portfolio of assets and our track record of delivering, operating and financing growth in the U.S. despite challenging circumstances,” said Dave Carroll, CEO and Chief Renewables Officer, ENGIE North America. “The addition of another 730 MW of generation to our existing relationship reflects the commitment both ENGIE and Ares have to meeting growing demand for power in the U.S. and our willingness to invest in meeting those needs.”

ENGIE is a leading developer of renewable energy with more than 11 GW of renewable generation and energy storage projects currently in operation or under construction across the United States and Canada. Globally, ENGIE has 52.7 GW of renewables and storage in operation, and targeting 95 GW by 2030.

This transaction supports ENGIE’s strategy of continued investment in North America by deepening its partnership with a leading infrastructure investor, recycling capital to facilitate continued expansion of renewable generation to meet strong demand for power in the U.S.

“ENGIE has been an exceptional partner in our efforts to invest in high-quality infrastructure assets across attractive U.S. markets, and we are pleased to build on our relationship with this latest portfolio acquisition,” said Steve Porto, Partner in Ares Infrastructure Opportunities.

About ENGIE North America
Based in Houston, Texas, ENGIE North America Inc. is a regional hub of ENGIE, a major player in the energy transition, whose purpose is to accelerate the transition towards a carbon-neutral economy. With 98,000 employees in 30 countries, the Group covers the entire energy value chain, from production to infrastructures and sales. ENGIE combines complementary activities: renewable electricity and green gas production, flexibility assets (notably batteries), gas and electricity transmission and distribution networks, local energy infrastructures (heating and cooling networks) and the supply of energy to local authorities and businesses. Every year, ENGIE invests more than $10 billion to drive forward the energy transition and achieve its net zero carbon goal by 2045. ENGIE (ENGI), is listed on the Paris and Brussels Stock Exchanges. For more information on ENGIE in North America, please visit our website at www.engie-na.com or our LinkedIn page.

About Ares Management
Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES) is a leading global alternative investment manager offering clients complementary primary and secondary investment solutions across the credit, real estate, private equity and infrastructure asset classes. We seek to advance our stakeholders’ long-term goals by providing flexible capital that supports businesses and creates value for our investors and within our communities. By collaborating across our investment groups, we aim to generate consistent and attractive investment returns throughout market cycles. As of September 30, 2025, Ares Management Corporation’s global platform had over $595 billion of assets under management, with operations across North America, South America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. For more information, please visit www.aresmgmt.com.

Contacts:

ENGIE North America
Michael Clingan, External Relations
Michael.clingan@external.engie.com
832-745-6057

Ares Management
Jacob Silber | Brennan O’Toole
media@aresmgmt.com

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Knox Community Solar Farms Deliver Clean Energy and Savings to Illinois with Ampion

(HOUSTON and GALESBURG, IL) Hundreds of households and businesses across Knox County will soon gain access to affordable renewable power as ENGIE North America (ENGIE) brings two new community solar farms online. The clean energy generated by these facilities will be made available to the state’s electric grid. Local residents and businesses subscribe to the solar farms through Ampion, a community solar subscription management company that will oversee subscriber enrollment and customer service.

The Knox 2A and Knox 2B projects, located in Galesburg, Illinois, will generate clean energy, cut carbon emissions and provide meaningful bill savings to local subscribers. Together, the two projects will produce more than 8.2 million kilowatt-hours annually, avoiding over 7,800 tons of carbon dioxide emissions – the same as taking 1,655 cars off the road for a year.

A community solar farm is a privately owned business established to capture energy from the sun and convert it into electricity that flows into the utility grid. Residents and businesses can subscribe to a share of the farm’s output and, in turn, receive credits on their monthly electricity bills that reduce costs. ENGIE owns and operates the Knox solar farms, while Ampion provides subscription management by enrolling new participants and supporting them as customers.

“Community solar is about more than clean power. It’s about ensuring that households – including those with the greatest need – share in the benefits of the shift to clean energy,” said Kristen Fornes, Head of Distributed Solar and Storage for ENGIE. “These projects in Knox County show how renewable energy can strengthen communities, reduce costs and create a healthier future for families.”

More than 60% of the subscriptions are reserved for low-to-moderate income households, who will qualify through existing federal and state programs such as LIHEAP, Medicaid, SNAP, and TANF. These households – along with other local subscribers – will receive 20% savings on the value of solar bill credits applied to their monthly electricity bills.

“Ampion is proud to work with ENGIE to help low-to-moderate income families in Illinois access the cost-saving benefits of community solar,” said Nate Owen, CEO & Founder of Ampion. “With the majority of the benefits reserved for households enrolled in programs like LIHEAP, Medicaid, and SNAP, these solar farms will deliver much-needed electricity savings. We look forward to working with ENGIE throughout the course of these projects, while ensuring subscribers receive real cost savings on their utility bills.”

In total, the Knox solar gardens will benefit 443 households and businesses, delivering economic relief and advancing Illinois’ goals for clean and equitable energy access.

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About ENGIE North America

Based in Houston, Texas, ENGIE North America Inc. is a regional hub of ENGIE, a major player in the energy transition, whose purpose is to accelerate the transition towards a carbon-neutral economy. With 98,000 employees in 30 countries, the Group covers the entire energy value chain, from production to infrastructures and sales. ENGIE combines complementary activities: renewable electricity and green gas production, flexibility assets (notably batteries), gas and electricity transmission and distribution networks, local energy infrastructures (heating and cooling networks) and the supply of energy to local authorities and businesses. Every year, ENGIE invests more than $10 billion to drive forward the energy transition and achieve its net zero carbon goal by 2045. ENGIE (ENGI), is listed on the Paris and Brussels Stock Exchanges.  For more information on ENGIE in North America, please visit our website at www.engie-na.com or our LinkedIn page at www.linkedin.com/company/engie-north-america-inc.

About Ampion

Ampion provides turnkey subscription and revenue management solutions for renewable energy developers nationwide, simplifying the complex world of distributed generation. From prospect to payment, we maximize investor returns in a holistic way, optimizing revenue with a customer management platform purpose-built for community distributed generation. We’re industry veterans with the people, platform, and processes required to help developers and asset owners get the most out of their portfolios. Our clients choose us because we make their projects more predictable and more profitable, with better data insights, happier subscribers, and less risk. Learn more at ampion.net.    

Media Contacts

ENGIE North America
Michael Clingan, External Relations
Michael.clingan@external.engie.com

Ampion: Technica Communications
Melanie Morris
ampion@technica.inc

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Harmony Community Solar Farm

Lena, Illinois, month X, 2025 — Solstice, a leading community solar provider and ENGIE North America (ENGIE), proudly announces the start of solar energy production of the 2.5 MW Harmony community solar farm, located in Lena, Illinois. Developed by ENGIE North America in collaboration with Microsoft and Solstice, this project is a pivotal step toward expanding access to clean, affordable solar energy for Illinois residents, particularly those in underserved communities.

The Harmony community solar farm is designed to bring significant savings to hundreds of low- to moderate-income families, with 60% of the project’s capacity reserved specifically for income-qualified Illinois residents, many of whom have traditionally been unable to access the benefits of renewable energy.

Now that the project has started generating power, subscribers will receive savings up to 60% on their monthly electric bills, bringing the financial benefits of the clean energy transition to households that might otherwise miss out.

A key element to the successful start-up of the Harmony community solar farm is the agreement by Rush University System for Health, to be the anchor subscriber of the project taking 1.6 million kWh annually — equivalent to the remaining 40% of the total energy output of the solar farm — Rush is demonstrating its dedication to sustainability and community health by significantly reducing its carbon footprint.

“Rush’s commitment to the Harmony community solar farm exemplifies the power of collaboration in advancing clean energy solutions,” said Brandon King, Vice President of Facilities, Real Estate, Planning, Design & Construction at Rush University System for Health. “As the anchor subscriber, Rush is proud to help ensure the long-term success and impact of this project, which not only promotes renewable energy but also provides tangible benefits to the communities we all serve.”

“We are delighted to continue to expand our collaboration with Microsoft to help accelerate the growth in clean energy,” said Caroline Mead, VP Power Marketing and Commercial Strategy, ENGIE. “The ability to deliver unique opportunities to expand access to renewables through projects like Harmony is especially powerful and reflects the deep commitment ENGIE and Microsoft have to an equitable energy transition. The agreement with Rush further strengthens the connection with the residents of Illinois.”


Solstice is proud to act as the essential bridge connecting both residential and anchor subscribers to the Harmony community solar farm, ensuring a seamless experience for customers. Interested residents, small businesses and nonprofits can easily enroll online at Solstice.us, joining the broader effort to make renewable energy accessible to everyone.

“These Illinois projects in collaboration with ENGIE are about more than just clean energy — they reflect our joint dedication to making solar power accessible to everyone in Illinois,” said Sandhya Murali, CEO of Solstice. “By ensuring that all residents, regardless of their income or living situation, can benefit from solar energy, we’re helping to create more connected and empowered communities throughout the state.”

The Harmony community solar farm marks a significant milestone in Illinois’ journey toward a brighter future.

About ENGIE North America
Based in Houston, Texas, ENGIE North America Inc. is a regional hub of ENGIE, a major player in the energy transition, whose purpose is to accelerate the transition towards a carbon-neutral economy. With 98,000 employees in 30 countries, the Group covers the entire energy value chain, from production to infrastructure and sales. ENGIE combines complementary activities: renewable electricity and green gas production, flexibility assets (notably batteries), gas and electricity transmission and distribution networks, local energy infrastructures (heating and cooling networks) and the supply of energy to local authorities and businesses. Every year, ENGIE invests more than $10 billion to drive forward the energy transition and achieve its net zero carbon goal by 2045. ENGIE (ENGI), is listed on the Paris and Brussels Stock Exchanges. For more information on ENGIE in North America, please visit our website at www.engie-na.com or our LinkedIn page.


About Solstice Power Technologies LLC
Founded in 2015, Solstice is a mission-driven company dedicated to ensuring every community can access and benefit from clean energy. Solstice connects households and businesses to community solar farms that reduce their electric bills with no upfront cost or installation, pioneers inclusive financing innovations such as the Energy Score, and offers Community Benefit RECs, which aggregate corporate community investments to fund new clean energy projects and environmental justice initiatives. Solstice’s solutions provide financial benefits to under-resourced community members and the organizations that serve them, ensuring that clean energy supports those who need it most.

Media Contacts
Mary Jackson
press@solstice.us

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AstraZeneca Texas Manufacturing Site

HOUSTON – ENGIE Resources (ENGIE), a subsidiary of ENGIE North America, announced today a nine-year renewable energy supply agreement with AstraZeneca. Under the terms of an agreement that runs through 2034, AstraZeneca will procure renewable solar energy and Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) through ENGIE to support its manufacturing operations in Coppell, Texas.

The retail supply agreement will source from the Tyson Nick Solar Project, a 114MW solar generator that is located 90 miles northeast of Dallas in Lamar County, Texas. This agreement represents a major step toward reducing environmental impact, avoiding an estimated 94,447 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, the equivalent of eliminating the emissions from burning 105 million pounds of coal. This initiative underscores AstraZeneca’s strong commitment to sustainability and responsible environmental stewardship.

“This joint effort with AstraZeneca exemplifies how leading organizations can align climate ambition with meaningful action,” said Anne-Laure Chassanite, CEO of ENGIE Resources. “We’re proud to deliver renewable energy in support of AstraZeneca’s decarbonization goals—and deeply grateful to the dedicated teams across both organizations whose expertise and collaboration made this agreement possible.”

“By securing renewable energy for our Texas operations, AstraZeneca is proud to lead by example in reducing emissions and building a resilient supply chain,” said Jim Fox, Senior Vice President, Americas Supply Operations at AstraZeneca. “This partnership illustrates how innovative thinking, shared values, and action can accelerate the transition to cleaner energy, benefitting both our business and our communities.”

AstraZeneca represents a strategic customer base for ENGIE. It is one of nineteen global pharmaceutical accounts and is one of the first to have its climate targets verified by the Science-Based Targets Initiative’s Net-Zero Corporate Standard.

“We are privileged to work with an organization so deeply committed to both human health and environmental sustainability,” said Kristine Robak, Key Account Director at ENGIE Resources. “By delivering the benefits of renewable energy, we’re proud to contribute to AstraZeneca’s ambitious growth and sustainability goals as they expand their manufacturing capacity in the U.S.”

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About ENGIE North America
Based in Houston, Texas, ENGIE North America Inc. is a regional hub of ENGIE, a global leader in low-carbon energy and services. ENGIE (ENGI), is listed on the Paris and Brussels Stock Exchanges. Together with our 97,000 employees around the globe, our customers, partners and stakeholders, we are committed to accelerate the transition toward a carbon-neutral world, through reduced energy consumption and more environmentally friendly solutions. Inspired by our purpose (“raison d’être”), we reconcile economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet, building on our key businesses (gas, renewable energy, services) to offer competitive solutions to our customers. In North America, ENGIE helps our clients achieve their energy efficiency, reliability, and ultimately, their sustainability goals, as we work together to shape a sustainable future. We accomplish this through: energy efficiency projects, providing energy supply (including renewables and natural gas), and the development, construction and operation of renewable energy assets (wind, solar, storage and more). For more information on ENGIE North America, please visit our LinkedIn page or Twitter feed, www.linkedin.com/company/engie-north-america-inc and twitter.com/ENGIENorthAm.

Media Contact:
ENGIE North America: Michael Clingan, michael.clingan@external.engie.com, (832) 745 6057

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ENGIE and Meta expand PPA to more than 1.3 GW

Meta will contract 100% of ENGIE’s largest solar project to date, increasing their total collaboration to more than 1.3 GW, supporting the acceleration of digital infrastructure.

Houston – ENGIE North America (ENGIE) announced that it has entered into additional Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with Meta that will increase the overall scale of the commercial relationship between the two companies to more than 1.3 GW across four Texas projects.

The announced PPAs include ENGIE’s new 600 MW Swenson Ranch Solar project in Stonewall county, south east of Lubbock, Texas. The project will be the single largest asset in ENGIE’s more than 11 GW operating and in construction portfolio consisting of solar, wind and battery storage assets in North America. Swenson is expected to be operational in 2027, which Meta will purchase 100% of the project’s output to support its data center operations in the United States.

“We are excited to continue the expansion of our relationship with Meta,” said Dave Carroll, CEO and Chief Renewables Officer, ENGIE North America. “Our objective is to bring reliable, cost competitive power to the grid as rapidly as possible, and projects like Swenson demonstrate the importance of solar to meet the timely needs of our customers.”

The $900 million planned investment in Swenson will employ over 350 skilled workers during construction and once complete will generate more than $158 million in tax revenues for the county and the local hospital district over the life of the project.

“We are thrilled to bring an additional 600MW of solar energy to the grid, and expand our partnership with ENGIE to 1.3 GW” said Urvi Parekh, Head of Global Energy at Meta. “Our collaboration with ENGIE enables us to continue matching 100% of our electricity use with clean and renewable energy to support our data center operations.”

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About ENGIE North America
Based in Houston, Texas, ENGIE North America Inc. is a regional hub of ENGIE, a major player in the energy transition, whose purpose is to accelerate the transition towards a carbon-neutral economy. With 98,000 employees in 30 countries, the Group covers the entire energy value chain, from production to infrastructures and sales. ENGIE combines complementary activities: renewable electricity and green gas production, flexibility assets (notably batteries), gas and electricity transmission and distribution networks, local energy infrastructures (heating and cooling networks) and the supply of energy to local authorities and businesses. Every year, ENGIE invests more than $10 billion to drive forward the energy transition and achieve its net zero carbon goal by 2045. ENGIE (ENGI), is listed on the Paris and Brussels Stock Exchanges. For more information on ENGIE in North America, please visit our website at www.engie-na.com or our LinkedIn page.


Media Contacts
ENGIE North America
Michael Clingan, External Relations
Michael.clingan@external.engie.com

 

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Renewable Clusters and the Future of the Texas Grid

Texas stands at a pivotal moment in its energy journey. With its booming population, thriving industrial base and weather extremes, the state embodies both the opportunities and the challenges of building a reliable, affordable and clean grid.

Each summer, as ERCOT navigates record demand peaks, Texans are reminded that the question is not whether the grid has enough capacity on paper, but whether it can deliver power where and when it is needed. Against this backdrop, new models of renewable development are emerging – models that combine scale, storage, technology and community partnership into something larger than the sum of their parts.

The concept of renewable clusters deserves attention. By co-locating generation and storage assets, sharing infrastructure and building strong ties with host communities, clusters demonstrate that clean energy can provide reliability on par with conventional generation. The ENGIE Chillingham project in Bell County offers one of the clearest case studies. More than a solar farm, Chillingham is a blueprint for how renewables can anchor regional grids and create enduring community value.

At 350 megawatts of solar paired with 150 megawatts of battery storage, Chillingham represents a scale of investment that commands notice on its own. Yet when combined with its neighboring Five Wells project, the cluster exceeds one gigawatt of capacity and nearly $1 billion of investment in the area. But size alone is not what makes the project significant. Its true value lies in pairing variable solar output with dispatchable storage, ensuring that power is available not only when the sun shines but whenever Texans need it most.

Technology is at the center of the Chillingham model. From advanced inverters that provide grid support services, to drones that inspect arrays, to robotics that accelerate construction, innovation permeates the project. Even daily operations are digitized, with climate-controlled warehouses safeguarding sensitive equipment from Texas heat. These measures are not just about efficiency—they are about resilience. They ensure that the cluster operates smoothly in a region where extreme weather is not hypothetical but expected.

Yet, no cluster succeeds on technology alone. The community dimension of Chillingham is as central as its technical achievements. The project has generated more than $15 million in county tax revenue and $64 million in school district funding. It has supported 400 construction jobs and created 20 long-term positions, many filled by local hires. Landowners benefit from stable lease income, while donations to schools – including robotics programs, invest in the next generation of engineers.

When wildfires threatened the local area, project staff joined emergency responders in protecting homes and farmland. These efforts underscore a fundamental principle: renewable projects thrive when the communities around them thrive.

The workforce dimension further reinforces this point. The technicians, site managers, analysts, and administrators who keep Chillingham running represent both local roots and specialized expertise. Their pride in building “something for people to come back to” speaks volumes about the cultural dimension of renewables.

Safety, too, plays a decisive role. At Chillingham, every day begins with a safety briefing, and every worker has the authority to halt operations if conditions are unsafe. This culture elevates reliability itself. A resilient grid cannot exist without a resilient workforce – one that is both empowered and protected.

The lessons for Texas, and for the nation, are clear. Renewable clusters demonstrate that clean energy can deliver on the three dimensions policymakers often see in tension: reliability, affordability, and decarbonization. They show that innovation is not optional but essential to competitiveness. They confirm that community benefits are not side effects but central to project durability. And they remind us that people – the skilled professionals who design, build, and operate these assets – are the true drivers of the transition.

The future of the U.S. grid will be written by such models. As demand accelerates with electrification, as weather volatility tests infrastructure, and as expectations for affordability and reliability intensify, renewable clusters provide a replicable blueprint.

They prove that renewable projects can be grid assets and community assets simultaneously. They illustrate how thoughtful design, strong partnerships, and continuous innovation can transform challenges into strengths. Most importantly, they call on industry peers and policymakers alike to see in places like Bell County not just projects, but pathways to a resilient energy future.

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Daikin Selects ENGIE to Advance Unified Solar Power Strategy Across Texas

HOUSTON, Texas—September 17, 2025— Daikin, a global leader in air conditioning manufacturing, announced today a five-year agreement with ENGIE North America to power all of the company’s Texas facilities with 100% renewable electricity, including the Daikin Texas Technology Park (DTTP), home to its largest manufacturing site and North American headquarters.

“This initiative represents a major step forward in aligning our operations with Daikin’s long-term sustainability goals,” said Mike Knights, Senior Vice President of Procurement at Daikin. “By working with ENGIE, a global leader in the energy transition, we’re securing clean electricity for our Texas operations while reinforcing our environmental responsibility goals. The initiative facilitates a transparent, traceable connection between operational energy use and a certified renewable energy source.”

Under the agreement, Daikin will source clean electricity from the Impact Solar project in North Texas, which is owned and operated by a third party and has been in commercial operation since 2021. This relationship brings Daikin closer to its goal of making the DTTP a Net Zero Factory by 2030 and supports the company’s global Environmental Vision 2050.

“This agreement with Daikin underscores how industry leaders can advance global visions into tangible progress locally,” said Anne-Laure Chassanite, CEO of ENGIE Resources. “We’re proud to deliver renewable electricity from Impact Solar in support of Daikin’s operations in Texas.”

This milestone builds on Daikin’s recent installation of a solar array at DTTP, which powers the facility’s central chiller plant and supports grid integration. Together, these efforts reflect a broader strategy shaped by a two-year collaboration with ForeFront Power to evaluate energy usage, sustainability goals, and procurement planning. The result is a forward-looking approach that advances Daikin’s environmental goals while reinforcing its leadership in sustainable manufacturing and corporate responsibility within the HVAC industry.

“Our relationship with Daikin reflects the power of strategic energy planning and competitive solicitation processes to drive meaningful sustainability outcomes,” said Dr. Ruben Fontes, CEO of ForeFront Power. “Over the past two years, our Advisory Services team worked closely with Daikin to shape and execute on a comprehensive renewables procurement strategy that aligns with their Net Zero ambitions. We’re proud to have played a role in helping Daikin lead the way in responsible manufacturing and renewable energy adoption.”


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About Daikin
Daikin Industries, Ltd. (DIL) is a Fortune 1,000 company with more than 100,000 employees worldwide and a leading indoor comfort solutions provider. Daikin Comfort Technologies North America, Inc. (DNA) is a subsidiary of DIL, providing Daikin, Goodman, Amana® and Quietflex brand products. DNA and its affiliates manufacture heating and cooling systems for residential, commercial and industrial use that are sold via independent HVAC contractors. DNA engineering and manufacturing is headquartered at Daikin Texas Technology Park near Houston, TX. For additional information, visit www.daikincomfort.com. Amana® is a registered trademark of Maytag Corporation or its related companies and is used under license. All rights reserved.

About ENGIE North America

Based in Houston, Texas, ENGIE North America Inc. is a regional hub of ENGIE, a major player in the energy transition, whose purpose is to accelerate the transition towards a carbon-neutral economy. With 98,000 employees in 30 countries, the Group covers the entire energy value chain, from production to infrastructures and sales. ENGIE combines complementary activities: renewable electricity and green gas production, flexibility assets (notably batteries), gas and electricity transmission and distribution networks, local energy infrastructures (heating and cooling networks) and the supply of energy to local authorities and businesses. Every year, ENGIE invests more than $10 billion to drive forward the energy transition and achieve its net zero carbon goal by 2045. ENGIE (ENGI), is listed on the Paris and Brussels Stock Exchanges. For more information on ENGIE in North America, please visit our website at www.engie-na.com or our LinkedIn page.

About ForeFront Power

ForeFront Power is a leading provider of energy solutions and advisory services. This includes commercial and industrial-scale (C&I) solar energy and battery storage projects in the U.S. and Mexico, as well as fleet electrification and asset management services. With over 15 years of experience, the ForeFront Power team has developed more than 1,900 behind-the-meter and community solar projects, totaling more than 1.6 gigawatt-DC of renewable electricity. In addition to project development and asset management, ForeFront Power provides strategic advisory services that help organizations navigate complex energy decisions—from sustainability and procurement planning to renewable project implementation. The company serves a wide array of business, government, education, healthcare, and community solar customers from its San Francisco headquarters and through teams based in New York, Mexico City, and across the U.S. For additional information, please visit www.forefrontpower.com.

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