Under a recently signed agreement, EDP will implement decentralized solar energy projects both on the ground and on the rooftops of Snop’s factories in three European countries. The partnership involves installing more than 9,200 solar panels, with a total capacity of approximately 5 MWp, at locations including Étupes (France), Nigrán (Spain), and Artern and Buchholz (Germany). EDP and Snop plan to expand this collaboration, aiming for up to 10 MWp of solar energy, with future projects potentially extending to other countries such as Italy and Poland.

The installation in Spain is already operational, having been completed just six months after the partnership was signed. This result demonstrates EDP’s expertise and capabilities in decentralized solar solutions, highlighting the benefits of renewable energy by reducing development and construction times for clients.

Snop, a major global company in the automotive industry, will consume locally produced renewable energy at its own facilities. This will significantly reduce its reliance on the electricity grid while increasing the use of clean energy to power its operations. On average, this partnership will cover about 20% of the factories’ electricity consumption needs.

Collectively, these solar plants will have the capacity to produce 4.6 GWh per year—enough renewable electricity to power more than 1,400 homes. These projects will help avoid the emission of over 3,400 tons of CO₂ annually, which would otherwise be released if the same amount of electricity were generated from non-renewable sources in these countries.

Executive Board Member Statements

“We are proud to have been selected by another multinational company to provide clean, safe, and affordable energy—an essential step in accelerating the energy transition. This project highlights EDP’s expertise in delivering sustainable energy solutions to global businesses across various markets. With more than 2.9 GWp of contracted capacity in 15 countries, EDP remains committed to supporting the transition to renewables, reinforcing Europe’s leadership in sustainability,” stated Vera Pinto Pereira, Executive Board Member of EDP.

“We are pleased to be advancing our carbon strategy with EDP, a crucial step for Snop to achieve our carbon neutrality goals. Our collaboration with EDP is an essential part of this journey, and we are actively exploring opportunities to expand this partnership to other countries. This is just the beginning of a productive collaboration as we continue to strengthen our cooperation,” said Jan Selbach, Senior Purchasing Director at Snop.

Benefits of Distributed Solar Energy

Integrating distributed solar panels directly into customer facilities offers numerous benefits, including improved energy efficiency, reduced operational costs, greater energy independence, and a significant contribution to carbon emissions reduction. This approach enables companies to optimize their energy supply while supporting broader sustainability objectives.

In France, Snop’s home country, EDP has been present since 2007 through EDP Renováveis, having developed approximately 800 MW in large-scale wind and solar projects. In 2024, EDP reinforced its European leadership with the installation of its first decentralized solar generation projects in the country.

In Germany, where EDP has been active since 2022, the company has several large-scale solar projects under development, totaling more than 2 GWp, with the first expected to start operations in 2025. Additionally, EDP is developing multiple decentralized solar projects in the country.

In Spain, EDP has already developed around 300 MWp of decentralized solar projects. The company’s total renewable energy capacity in Spain—including wind, solar, and hydropower—now exceeds 2.6 GW.

EDP’s “As-a-Service” Model

The decentralized solar energy projects will be implemented under the “As-a-Service” model, in which EDP covers 100% of the investment, maintenance, and operation costs, while the financial benefits of the installation are shared between the two companies.

Through this partnership, EDP strengthens its role as a key partner for large multinational corporations, offering customized solar solutions tailored to the scale and characteristics of each factory across different countries. By collaborating with Snop, EDP continues to expand its diverse client portfolio, engaging with companies from various sectors.

This approach aligns with EDP’s strategic vision of enabling the decarbonization of the economy, addressing the energy transition needs of each sector.

Solar distributed energy is one of EDP’s main growth areas for this decade. The company plans to invest €2.5 billion by 2026 to install an additional 4 GWp of solar projects for homes and businesses, thereby increasing renewable energy production and expanding access to clean energy for more people.