Imerys and ENGIE partner to accelerate decarbonization in Europe
We announced today the signature of a ten-year Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CPPA) with ENGIE, a global leader in low carbon energy and services. This contract will both allow ENGIE to supply annually the grid with 200 GWh per year of renewable electricity in Spain and contribute to the equivalent of 24% of our operations annual electricity needs in Continental Europe.
The contract concerns three solar power plants in Spain which are scheduled by ENGIE to be commissioned between early 2026 and early 2027. This marks a milestone in our efforts to decarbonize our activities in the region, cutting 70,000 tons of CO2 equivalent per year from 2028 when it will be fully operational. It will contribute to a 14% decrease in Imerys’ Group-wide Scope 2 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, resulting in an approximate 4% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions overall*.
This agreement represents a significant milestone in our European decarbonization roadmap and demonstrates our determination to scale up renewable energy sourcing across our operations,” “By leveraging ENGIE’s expertise, we are not only accelerating our progress toward our global target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 42% by 2030* in line with the 1.5°C trajectory, but we are also supporting our customers in reaching their own decarbonization targets.
At Imerys, we know that reducing carbon emissions is one of the most important challenges we face — not just as a company, but as an industry. That’s why renewable energy is at the heart of our decarbonization strategy.
This is the latest in a series of renewable energy projects we’ve developed worldwide:
- Regional power agreements like those recently signed in the US and China
- On-site PPAs with four solar farms already operational in the UK, Bahrain, China and Malaysia and four more signed in California (US), India, South Africa and Belgium.
Each of these projects reflects a shared goal: to support the energy transition while keeping our operations efficient and competitive.
Looking ahead
The partnership is just one part of a broader energy transition underway at Imerys. From electrifying industrial processes to improving energy efficiency on our sites, we’re working on multiple fronts to reduce our footprint while continuing to deliver essential mineral solutions for our customers.
This new CPPA with ENGIE demonstrates what’s possible when collaboration meets ambition — and it sets the tone for the next chapter in our sustainability journey.
* baseline 2021
Imerys has signed an important 15-year Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CPPA) with French renewable energy provider, Akuo, to source approximately 30% of its electricity needs in the U.S. from renewable sources. This strategic partnership involves the construction by Akuo of a 153 GWh solar park in Texas and marks a key milestone in Imerys’ journey to decarbonize its activities, in accordance with the trajectory of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.
- Imerys earns A for Climate and B for Water in CDP ranking
- Recognition of Imerys’ action, transparency and progress towards its long-term objectives to align its activities on the 1.5°C trajectory and manage water resources sustainably
- Second year of A-list ranking for Climate
- Improved Water Security ranking from B- in 2024 to B in 2025
China’s electric vehicle (EV) market continues to experience exponential growth, with over half the population projected to drive fully electric or hybrid vehicles by 2025. Inaugurated in October 2023, Imerys’ talc processing plant in Wuhu China is now successfully fueling the Chinese automotive market with the essential mineral solutions it needs to drive its transition towards more sustainable mobility.
Using peanut shells as a source of energy? This is one approach we are implementing through our decarbonization lever: Fuel switching and Biomass use. We have launched a comprehensive program to identify, assess and implement projects to switch from fossil fuels, such as coal and heavy fuel oil, to natural gas (a fossil energy source that releases lower GHG emissions) and to biomass waste.
We’ll take you on a journey to America, Europe, the Middle East and China to discover some of our initiatives!