TotalEnergies' Largest US Utility-Scale Solar Farms Start Operations

Core Viewpoint - TotalEnergies SE has commenced commercial operations of two utility-scale solar farms, Danish Fields and Cottonwood, in Texas, contributing to its renewable energy portfolio and decarbonization goals [1][2]. Group 1: Project Details - Danish Fields features 1.4 million photovoltaic panels with a peak capacity of 720 MWp, making it TotalEnergies' largest solar farm in the U.S. It includes a 225 MWh battery storage system [3]. - Cottonwood has a capacity of 455 MWp with over 847,000 photovoltaic panels and will also feature a 225 MWh battery storage facility, expected to be operational in 2025 [5]. - Both projects have long-term Corporate Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with industry players, ensuring a stable revenue stream and supporting TotalEnergies' decarbonization efforts [4][5]. Group 2: Renewable Energy Strategy - TotalEnergies aims to achieve a gross renewable capacity of 10 GW by 2025 and over 25 GW by 2030 in the U.S., alongside a recent acquisition of three gas-fired power plants adding 1.5 GW of flexible power production capacity [6]. - The company is focused on developing a competitive portfolio that combines renewable energy sources with flexible assets to provide reliable electricity [7]. - As of the end of 2023, TotalEnergies had an installed gross renewable power generating capacity of 22 GW, with plans to produce 35 GW by 2025 and over 100 TWh of net electricity by 2030 [8]. Group 3: Industry Context - Other major companies like BP, ExxonMobil, and Equinor are also increasing their focus on renewable energy and emissions reduction, with BP targeting 50 GW of net renewable capacity by 2030 [9]. - ExxonMobil plans significant investments in emission-reduction projects and aims for net-zero emissions by 2050 [10]. - Equinor is actively investing in renewable energy, expecting to achieve a production capacity of 4-6 GW by 2026 and 12-16 GW by 2035 [11].