Start of production at the Cacao biomass power plant in French Guiana

Voltalia (Euronext Paris, ISIN code: FR0011995588), an international player in renewable energies, announces that the Cacao biomass power plant in French Guiana produced its first kilowatt hours on December 17, 2020. Thanks to an investment of around 75 million euros, this biomass power plant produces carbon-free electricity sold at a price lower than the cost of thermal power plants in Guyana, while contributing to the Territory's energy autonomy

“Renewable energies, which already represent 50% of Guyana's energy mix, are a key solution to meet the growing energy demand of Guyanese households. As such, biomass, which allows Voltalia to supply electricity continuously, is particularly suitable for the Territory where residues from forest activity managed sustainably by the ONF abound. I thank the teams who were able to carry out this project successfully despite all the constraints due to the health crisis” commented Sébastien Clerc, CEO of Voltalia

The Cacao power plant, located in the municipality of Roura, was designed and built by Voltalia, which also maintains it. With a capacity of 5.1 megawatts, it benefits from a contract with a guaranteed rate for 25 years. Once the current tests are completed, the production injected into the public network will be sold at a price lower than the cost of the thermal power plants in place in Guyana, which run on diesel

The power plant will have storage capacity thanks to batteries with a capacity of 550 kW/250 kWh, making it possible to modulate the power of the plant extremely quickly and contribute to stabilizing the non-interconnected grid in French Guiana. This new battery brings Voltalia's storage capacity in French Guiana to 13.1 megawatts, where the Group has the largest storage complex in

Combining renewable energies and the circular economy, without touching the primary forest

The Cacao power plant operates continuously from the combustion of locally produced wood waste from forest farms sustainably managed by the National Forestry Office (ONF) and sawmills. By recovering a fraction of the wood abandoned in the forest and replacing diesel-powered solutions, the power plant will avoid the emission of 28,500 tons of CO2e per year. In addition, ash from the combustion of this natural wood will be made available to farmers in the area to promote soil amendment.

To optimize the maintenance of Cacao, Voltalia is capitalizing on the know-how developed in its biomass power plant in Kourou, which has been in operation since 2009. The Cacao power plant also contributes to the creation of 40 direct and indirect jobs and helps to consolidate the activity of local businesses in the wood sector

Voltalia currently has six renewable energy plants in Guyana (three solar, two biomass, one hydroelectric) as well as battery storage units, for a total installed capacity of 30 megawatts, making it possible to produce the equivalent of nearly 10% of the electricity consumed on the Guiana coast.

Next appointment: Q4 2020 earnings on January 26, 2021

About Voltalia (www.voltalia.com)
Voltalia is an international player in renewable energies. The Group produces and sells electricity from its wind, solar, hydraulic, biomass and storage facilities. It has an operating and construction capacity of more than 1.3 GW and a portfolio of projects under development with a total capacity of 8.5 GW.Voltalia is also a service provider and supports its customers in renewable energy during all stages of projects, from design to operation/maintainment.A pioneer in the business market, Voltalia finally offers a global offer to businesses. ranging from the supply of green electricity to energy efficiency services to the local production of its own electricity. With its 994 employees in 20 countries on 4 continents, Voltalia has the capacity to act globally for its clients. Voltalia is listed on the regulated Euronext market in Paris (FR0011995588 — VLTSA) and is part of the Enternext Tech 40 and CAC Mid&Small indices. The company is also included in the Gaïa-Index, the index of responsible average stocks.
VoltaliaInvestor Relations: [email protected] T. +33 (0) 1 81 70 37 00ActifinMedia Relations: Jennifer [email protected] T.

Toco complex, see the press release dated November 16, 2020 The Cacao biomass power plant is designed for a capacity factor close to 90%. The data cited correspond to the basic scenario in CO2 equivalent, developed by the independent engineering firm FRMi, commissioned by Voltalia Source: EDF SEI

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