EDP, a leading developer of decentralized solar in Europe, has been selected by DECATHLON to install up to 80 solar plants at the company's facilities in six European countries. Up to 42,000 solar panels will be installed on the retailer's rooftops, carports, and other locations, achieving an installed capacity of over 21 MWp. This significant initiative accelerates DECATHLON's goal of producing and consuming solar energy, bringing the company closer to its ambitious commitment to use only renewable energy for DECATHLON stores worldwide by 2026.

In the coming months, EDP will begin installing plants at dozens of DECATHLON locations in France and Germany, enhancing the expansion of EDP's decentralized solar division into these two countries, where the company already has a presence through large-scale renewable production with EDP Renewables.

This partnership includes decentralized production plants in Portugal, where most of the projects are already installed and operational, as well as in Spain, Belgium, and Italy, with solar facilities also being developed in the coming months. The goal is to complete more than 80 solar plants by the end of 2026.

With this collaboration, EDP strengthens its role as a key partner to major multinational companies by simultaneously delivering tailored solar solutions adapted to the size and characteristics of each DECATHLON building.

"Being chosen by a partner like DECATHLON for this collaboration is a significant milestone for EDP. Our commitment to delivering multi-geography solar projects to global clients underscores our dedication to innovation and sustainable energy solutions worldwide. This endeavor is a testament to the expertise and collaborative efforts of our European teams, unified in our pursuit of a common goal: advancing renewable energy on a global scale," says Vera Pinto Pereira, EDP’s executive board member who heads its decentralized solar business worldwide.

"DECATHLON's goal is to achieve 100% renewable electricity by 2026 in its property sites. To do this we are prioritizing solar energy and aim to deploy solar plants at our sites whenever possible. EDP was the winner of a fierce regional competition for onsite projects in Europe in 2022, and since then have been signing contracts with DECATHLON and installing photovoltaic panels in many of our sites. This is an important step towards improving quality renewable energy and reducing CO2 emissions.", says Jean-Philippe Garraux, DECATHLON’s International Real Estate and Development leader.

Together, these plants could produce up to 21 MWh per year, enough energy to supply four thousand homes with renewable energy. By installing these solar plants, DECATHLON and EDP are contributing to avoiding the emission of around five thousand tons of CO2 per year, which would be emitted if the same amount of electricity were produced in these countries from non-renewable sources, equivalent to driving 1,200 gasoline-powered cars*

With over a decade of experience and distributed solar generation operations in four global regions, this has become one of EDP's fastest-growing business segments and is expected to represent about 50% of the new solar capacity globally in the coming years. The group is committed to investing 2.5 billion euros by 2026 to install an additional 4 GWp in solar projects for households and businesses, thus making a decisive contribution to the energy transition.

*EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator

About EDP

EDP is a global utility with a presence in four world regions - Europe, North America, South America, and Asia. The company produces, distributes, and supplies electricity and aims to be 100% renewable by 2030. So far, the company has surpassed 85% of renewable production. EDP’s business strategy for 2023-2026 sets out ambitious plans for €25bn of further investment in the energy transition.

EDP already has a global leading position in solar Distributed Generation projects and is a leader among European-based players. With more than a decade of experience, the group has installed to date around 1.7 GWp of solar DG capacity with business and residential clients worldwide, of which more than 1.3 GWp are through the As-a-Service model (in which EDP secures 100% of the initial investment and contracts a long-term PPA with the client).

Operating solar DG in 17 markets worldwide, the group has a strong track record and dedicated teams that have already deployed more than 130 thousand installations in residential houses (in Europe) and in small businesses to large-size corporate companies, across Europe, Asia Pacific, North America and Brazil. This achievement showcases EDP's solid ability to secure clients globally while contributing to a more sustainable planet for all.

About DECATHLON

A global multi-specialist sports brand catering to beginners and top athletes, Decathlon is an innovative maker of sporting goods for all skills. With more than 100,000 teammates and 1,700 stores worldwide, Decathlon and its teams have been working ever since 1976 to fulfill an ongoing ambition: Move people through the wonders of sport, to help them be healthier and happier in a sustainable future."

Notes to editors

DECATHLON’s objective by 2026 is to reduce its absolute CO2 emissions by 20%, based on emissions measured in 2021. To reach this ambition, DECATHLON has implemented three main actions: decarbonizing its carbon footprint, designing its products with a reduced impact, and scaling up circular business models. Renewable electricity sources are one of the key actions to decarbonizing DECATHLON’s footprint, which is why, DECATHLON has an ambitious commitment to using renewable energy sources in 100% of its stores by 2026.