Our renewables.digital research team has identified Engie SA as France’s largest renewable energy developer, with a renewable capacity of around 46.000 MW. Based on the company’s installed capacity, investment volume and project pipeline, the renewables.digital team concludes that Engie SA is one of the largest renewable energy developers not only in France but also in Europe and the world.
Which renewable energy assets is Engie developing?
Engie SA is a French multinational electricity company founded in 2008 when the energy companies Suez S.A. and Gaz de France merged. Engie was rebranded in its current form in 2015. Throughout most of its history, Engie has produced energy from coal, petroleum, gas and nuclear sources. However, it has increasingly relied on renewable energy sources. In 2020, the company’s business focus shifted fully when Engie presented its new purpose: “to accelerate the transition towards a carbon-neutral economy through reduced energy consumption and more environmentally friendly solutions”. Engie is now primarily involved in developing and generating power from renewable resources. The company already has production sites for almost every type of renewable energy, including wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, hydropower and hydrogen.
Overview of Engie’s portfolio and pipeline
Regarding its new company purpose, Engie has already made substantial progress in transforming its energy supply, and it has ambitious goals to further expand its business. Engie has now developed an installed capacity of 46 GW in renewable energy sources. The company aims to reach 50 GW by the end of the year. From 2025 to 2030, the company plans to install an additional 6 GW each year, aiming to reach 80 GW of renewable energy by 2030. Engie also plans to install 10 GW of battery storage by 2030 and to have a green hydrogen production capacity of around 4 GW by 2035. To achieve these objectives, Engie invested between 22 and 25 billion euros between 2023 and 2025.
Since 2018, Engie has undergone a significant transformation in terms of its international presence. While it was previously active in 70 countries, it is now focusing on its core business in 31 countries. Some 96,000 people work to fulfil the company’s goals in these countries. In addition to increasing its renewable capacity by 15 GW between 2021 and 2024, Engie has also contracted 14 GW of PPAs with companies all over the world.
Alternative candidates, the largest renewable energy developer from France
Our team also considered several other prominent renewable energy developers in France for the top position.
TotalEnergies, traditionally recognized for its oil and gas operations, is a global multi-energy company undergoing a strategic shift toward renewable energy in response to the broader energy transition in France and worldwide. The company aims to reach a gross installed renewable power generation capacity of 100 GW by 2030, up from its current capacity of 26 GW. With its huge development pipeline, TotalEnergies could take the number one spot from Engie in the future. However, Engie is still the leader in our ranking, especially regarding the already installed capacity of renewable energy.
EDF Renewables is a French-based developer actively contributing to the energy transition by deploying cutting-edge technologies and advancing numerous renewable energy initiatives, particularly in wind, solar power and energy storage. The Paris-headquartered company is present in 20 countries, where it has developed energy projects with an installed capacity of more than 13GW. Although EDF Renewables has a strong international presence, it lacks the projects needed to take the top spot.
Neoen was founded in 2008 and is owned by Brookfield Renewable Holdings SAS. Neoen is one of France`s leading independent producers of renewable energy. The company focuses on solar, wind, and energy storage projects, with operations spanning four continents. As of 2024, the company reports a total of 8.9 GW of capacity either operational or under construction. Neoen’s target is to exceed 10 GW in total capacity by 2025.
Picture source: American Public Power Association via Unsplash
