TotalEnergies expands agri-PV ops via takeover of Ombrea

September 29 (Renewables Now) - French energy group TotalEnergies (EPA:TTE) unveiled on Thursday the acquisition of domestic agrivoltaics firm Ombrea in a deal seen to advance the development of its own 1.5-GW agri-PV project portfolio.

Established in October 2016, Ombrea has so far built 10 sites and studied around 50 crop varieties. The company, which has more than 40 employees, has 158 MW of solar capacity under development, according to its website. Most recently, it inaugurated a new agrivoltaic facility over an asparagus plot for a private farmer in Caumont-sur-Garonne.

With the deal, which will combine the acquired business with TotalEnergies’ existing operations in the segment, the energy group will set up an agrivoltaic hub based at Ombrea's site in Aix-en-Provence, targeting both the local and foreign markets.