TotalEnergies has made a big move in the UK clean energy sector. The oil major acquired a 435-megawatt (MW) renewable energy portfolio from Low Carbon. This portfolio includes large-scale solar power plants and advanced battery storage projects.
The acquisition boosts TotalEnergies‘ role in the UK energy market. It also aids the country’s shift to greener power sources.
Olivier Jouny, Senior Vice President of Renewables at TotalEnergies, remarked:
“We are delighted with the acquisition of these projects from Low Carbon. Located in the south of England, they benefit from favorable sunlight and complement our integrated electricity portfolio in the UK, which includes 1.1 GW of gross installed offshore wind, 1.3 GW of gross combined cycle gas turbine, and more than 600 MW of solar projects under development.”
Why Is This Acquisition Important?
The new portfolio adds 350 MW of solar energy and 85 MW of battery storage to TotalEnergies’ assets in the UK. This addition is essential because it helps the UK work toward its goal of having 70% of its electricity come from renewable sources by 2030. The clean energy from these projects is enough to power about 100,000 homes each year.
The oil major now manages over 600 MW of solar energy projects under development in the UK. These new assets join the company’s existing wind and gas power supplies, creating a more balanced and low-carbon energy mix. A diverse energy mix helps ensure a stable supply of electricity while reducing the use of fossil fuels.
Batteries: The Unsung Heroes of Solar Power
Solar power depends on sunlight, so it does not always generate electricity consistently. For example, solar panels produce less power on cloudy days or at night. Battery storage systems address this issue. They store extra electricity when the sun shines and release it when solar production decreases.
TotalEnergies’ 85 MW of battery storage increases the reliability of solar power. These batteries can provide electricity during periods of high demand or when solar generation is low. This reduces the need for backup energy from fossil fuels, which helps lower overall carbon emissions.
Environmental Benefits of the New Renewable Portfolio
The newly acquired projects are expected to deliver more than 350 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity each year. This is a major step toward reducing the use of fossil fuels in power generation. Solar energy produces far fewer carbon emissions than traditional sources, such as coal or natural gas.
Replacing 350 GWh of fossil-fuel-based electricity with solar power could reduce 50,000–60,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions every year. The addition of battery storage makes this impact even greater by helping to match electricity supply with demand. This reduces the need for gas-fired power plants during times of high energy use or low solar production.
TotalEnergies’ strategy supports the UK’s Clean Power 2030 roadmap, shown below, which aims for a renewable-led electricity grid. This acquisition aligns with both the company’s and the nation’s goals for a cleaner, low-emissions future.
Estimated CO₂ Emissions Reduction
Switching 350 GWh of fossil-fuel electricity to solar power can cut CO₂ emissions by about 50,000 to 60,000 tonnes each year. This estimate is based on typical UK grid emission factors for displaced fossil generation.
Additional Impact from Battery Storage
The 85 MW battery storage will boost carbon savings. It allows more renewable energy to be used when needed. This also cuts down on fossil fuel backup.
Studies and industry data suggest that each megawatt of battery storage can avoid 500–1,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually. For 85 MW of battery capacity, this translates to an additional annual reduction of 42,000 to 85,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions.
Combined Annual CO₂ Savings
TotalEnergies’ expansion could reduce CO₂ emissions by 92,000 to 145,000 tonnes each year. This estimate comes from combining reductions from solar and battery storage. The figure shows how clean electricity generation and better grid reliability from energy storage work together.
Riding the Renewable Wave in the UK and Globally
The renewable energy market is growing quickly, both in the UK and around the world. In the UK, solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity could reach 20 gigawatts (GW) by 2025. At the same time, energy storage is becoming more important, with the UK energy storage market expected to be worth about £1.5 billion by 2030.
As shown by the chart above, demand could reach almost 10 GWh by 2030 and then double to 20 GWh by 2035. The British government has encouraged the growth of BESS by launching innovation competitions.
One recent example is the Longer Duration Energy Storage Demonstration (LODES), which offered £69 million in funding for start-ups and supported new types of battery technologies.
Globally, renewable energy could grow by 12% each year for the next five years. This growth comes from two main factors. First, government rules promote clean energy. Second, companies want to reduce their emissions.
Energy companies, like TotalEnergies, are driving this change. They are buying renewable assets and forming new partnerships.
TotalEnergies already owns 1.1 GW of offshore wind and 1.3 GW of gas capacity in the UK. The new 435 MW portfolio strengthens the company’s ability to provide a full mix of clean energy sources.
The oil giant can meet the UK’s rising energy demand by using solar, wind, gas, and battery storage. This approach also helps them stick to climate goals.
Powering the Path to Net Zero
Last year, TotalEnergies launched an initiative called “Our 5 Levers for Sustainable Change.” This program aims to involve all employees in reducing emissions by improving energy efficiency and using low-carbon technologies throughout the company’s operations.
In 2024, TotalEnergies reduced emissions from its operated sites by more than 36% compared to 2015 levels. This achievement was supported by over 200 projects focused on cutting emissions, which together eliminated 1.3 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e).
The company recently updated its emissions target for 2025 to 37 million tons (Mt) of CO₂e per year. It plans to reduce its net Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 40% by 2030, compared to 2015. This goal includes using 5 million carbon credits from nature-based projects. These credits will be reserved for emissions that cannot be eliminated after 2030 and will be used gradually, at about 10% per year.
By the end of 2024, TotalEnergies had invested about $750 million in projects to reduce emissions. These investments help save 1.5 million tons of CO₂e annually and reduce energy costs by more than $100 million each year.
While emissions from flexible power generation increased slightly, this was due to the addition of combined-cycle gas turbines (CCGTs) in the U.S. and the U.K. These turbines support the company’s expansion of low-carbon electricity.
Despite this, TotalEnergies’ total emissions fell by 25% compared to 2015 levels, showing significant progress toward its net-zero goals.
By investing in both solar power and battery storage, TotalEnergies is helping to ensure that clean electricity can be used at any time, not just when the sun is shining or the wind is blowing. This increases the reliability of the energy system and reduces the risk of power interruptions.
TotalEnergies’ recent acquisition from Low Carbon shows how big energy firms are leading the shift to cleaner, more dependable energy. The company is expanding its renewable energy portfolio, which supports national and global efforts to cut carbon emissions and protect the environment.
