Constant delivery profile solves renewable baseload dilemma
TotalEnergies has signed an innovative contract with SWM to supply 800 GWh for 10 years on a Clean Firm Power profile to its three paper mills in France: Papeteries de Saint Girons, PDM Industries and LTR Industries. The agreement, effective January 2026, utilizes approximately 50 MW of TotalEnergies’ existing renewable assets, combined with flexible resources that guarantee stability without depending on the weather.
The novelty of the contract is not simply the energy volume, but the technical architecture behind it. The firm energy sources bring balance to the grid, reduce the risk of blackouts, keep electricity prices stable, and support growing demand without sacrificing sustainability.
Sophie Chevalier, senior vice president of Flexible Energy and Integration at TotalEnergies, said that this contract demonstrates the ability to offer tailor-made solutions based on an integrated production portfolio combining renewable and flexible assets, addressing the specific needs of French industrial customers.
Paper industry: second most energy-intensive industry
Energy costs represent between 10% and 40% of total manufacturing expenses in this industry. For SWM, this agreement ensures that half of its electricity needs in France will come from renewable sources over the next decade, a strategic step toward its commitment to significantly reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2033.
Giuliano Scilio, vice president and IT director at SWM, noted that, for an energy-intensive industry such as the paper mill, this is not only an environmental milestone but a strategic investment that provides cost predictability and strengthens the ability to offer truly sustainable solutions to customers.
For sectors such as pulp and paper, where electricity demand is continuous and margins are sensitive to price volatility, firm renewable energy is increasingly seen as a strategic hedge rather than a purely environmental choice.
TotalEnergies consolidates leadership in industrial transition
TotalEnergies is building a competitive portfolio that combines renewables (solar, onshore and offshore wind) with flexible assets such as combined cycle gas turbines and storage to deliver clean and stable energy.
Battery storage will scale rapidly to serve growing data center demand, while firm baseload renewables such as hydro and geothermal will expand from a small base.
The agreement underscores the rise of long-term power purchase agreements in helping European industrial companies manage both energy costs and decarbonization targets.
For TotalEnergies, the contract adds to a growing portfolio of customized power supply agreements with major industrial and technology customers, including Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Air Liquide, Saint-Gobain and ST Microelectronics.
Source: https://totalenergies.com
Photo: Shutterstock