Orange Romania has reinforced its commitment to sustainability by entering into a new ten-year virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) with ENGIE Romania. The telecom provider will source approximately 40 GWh of wind energy annually from an ENGIE-operated wind farm through this deal.
This marks the second renewable energy agreement between the two companies. Their previous six-year VPPA, signed in 2023, secured 30 GWh of solar energy to power Orange Romania’s operations. The latest partnership further advances the operator’s goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.
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Nearing 100% Renewable Energy
Orange Romania, one of the country’s largest telecom providers with over 11 million customers, has made remarkable progress in integrating renewable energy into its operations. By 2024, the company reported that 93% of its energy consumption was sourced from renewable power. This milestone puts it well ahead of many industry peers in transitioning to green energy.
The company’s sustainability efforts align with Orange Group’s broader environmental strategy, which includes reducing carbon emissions across all markets and investing in energy-efficient infrastructure. Orange Romania has also implemented eco-friendly initiatives, such as modernizing its network infrastructure, to minimize power consumption and has integrated energy storage solutions to enhance efficiency.
“This long-term partnership will significantly contribute to our decarbonization goals, ensuring that a substantial part of our energy needs come from renewable sources,” said Julien Ducarroz, CEO of Orange Romania.
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Expanding Green Energy Goals
ENGIE Romania, a key player in the country’s renewable energy sector, currently operates 211 MW of renewable capacity, with 178 MW coming from three wind farms and 33 MW from five solar plants. The company aims to reach an installed renewables capacity of 1 GW in Romania by 2030, aligning with national and EU-wide decarbonization goals.
ENGIE has been rapidly expanding its power purchase agreements (PPAs) globally. In 2024 alone, the company secured 4.3 GW in PPA deals (an increase from the 2.7 GW secured in 2023) amounting to 136 TWh of electricity supply. These 85 agreements span multiple continents, covering North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania.
Nicolas Richard, CEO of ENGIE Romania, added, “More and more companies [need] to adopt this type of medium- and long-term purchase contracts, especially in the current context of volatility, in which securing medium- and long-term energy needs can help mitigate risks related to energy prices, while contributing, at the same time, to achieving sustainability objectives.”
The growing demand for PPAs is primarily driven by the need for decarbonized electricity, particularly in energy-intensive sectors such as technology, data centers, and artificial intelligence (AI). With the rise of AI-driven applications requiring vast computing power, companies worldwide are seeking reliable, renewable energy sources to offset their carbon footprints.