The CFL get their power from green energy from the Greater Region

Official opening of the Südeifel photovoltaic park

Driving through the rural Südeifel region these days, you can admire the rapeseed fields that characterise the landscape with a summery yellow touch. But there’s something else that catches the eye: the photovoltaic panels, mounted by the thousands on the heights and bearing witness to the energy transition taking place in this region bordering the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

Impressive dimensions

The figures reflect the scale of this energy transition: over an area of 220 hectares, 380,000 photovoltaic modules, spread across eleven installations, provide the energy equivalent to the needs of some 60,000 households, which goes hand in hand with CO₂ savings of 139,240 tonnes a year.

Among the consumers of this green energy produced just a stone’s throw from Luxembourg are the CFL. Marc Wengler, CEO of the CFL Group, and Alain Blau, Administrative and Financial Director, were among the guests on Friday 19 April 2024 to attend the official opening of this vast and ambitious project, which combines regional economic growth, cross-border cooperation and sustainable development in an exemplary way.

The attendance in Karlshausen, a small municipality belonging to the Verbandsgemeinde Südeifel, of Lex Delles, Luxembourg’s Minister for the Economy and Energy, and Michael Hauer, Rhineland-Palatinate’s Secretary of State for Climate, Environment, Energy and Mobility, also underlined the political support for this initiative, whose driving force is Enovos.

The Grand Duchy’s leading energy supplier is the majority shareholder in the project. By joining forces with Enovos, the CFL are buying renewable energy from the region, thereby contributing to the economic development of the Greater Region.

Covering 15% of electricity needs

Under a seven-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Enovos Group, the CFL have been sourcing 20 MW of renewable energy since the beginning of 2024, covering 15% of their electricity needs and saving 14,234 tonnes of CO₂ per year.

“This cooperation enables us to satisfy two pillars of our business strategy: innovation and efficiency,” says Alain Blau. “On the one hand, we are innovating in ecological and climatic terms by consuming green energy produced in the region. On the other hand, economic efficiency is reflected in a favourable electricity price per MWh.”

This is because the purchase price under the PPA is predefined and stable throughout the term of the contract, ensuring that the purchase price is covered in the supply over the long term. When purchasing “standard” electrical energy, the CFL must also acquire certificates or guarantees of origin to ensure that the purchase of renewable energy is guaranteed – without, however, guaranteeing its local or regional origin.

Promoting photovoltaics

In addition to this innovative initiative, the CFL Group is also investing in the promotion of photovoltaics in Luxembourg. This is particularly true for the construction of new P+Rs and administrative buildings, where the Group made use of roof space to install sets of photovoltaic panels on the roofs of the P+Rs in Rodange and Mersch, and will do the same on the roof of the P+R in Troisvierges as well as the new headquarters building in Luxembourg City.

“Sustainable development, with its many facets, is an integral part of our day-to-day working approach,” emphasises Marc Wengler, CEO. “Being both a producer and consumer of renewable energy is a fine example of a responsible energy policy.”