ENGIE and Google to partner on energy solutions for a potential data center project near Châteauroux, France

ENGIE and Google have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), under which ENGIE could become Google’s preferred Energy Supplier & Management Partner, subject to entering into further agreements, for Google’s proposed data center project near Châteauroux, France. This project is currently undergoing a specific public consultation process led by the C ommission Nationale du Débat Public (CNDP). ENGIE will bring its technical and energy expertise to the discussions on the project’s feasibility, contributing to the public consultation process, in line with the CNDP framework.

Should the data center project move forward, the solutions identified as part of this cooperation could be further developed with a view to their implementation. The proposed cooperation in Châteauroux would focus on three areas:

• Developing additional clean energy generation: ENGIE and Google will explore the development of a balanced, large-scale and multi-technology clean energy portfolio, including renewable generation arrangements at a national level, to support the future data center operations while ensuring this additional capacity does not contribute to increasing power prices for French households or businesses, whether locally or nationally.  

• Supporting the power grid: ENGIE and Google will assess grid integration and flexibility solutions, including utility-scale and behind-the-meter battery energy storage systems (BESS), with the objective of supporting the reliability and flexibility of the electricity system.

• Safeguarding energy affordability in local communities: Both parties are exploring initiatives to improve the energy efficiency of homes and buildings, and to develop local energy infrastructure such as electromobility. Energy affordability and residential buildings are essential public-interest priorities for the Châteauroux Métropole territory. The companies will also assess the potential to recover waste heat generated by the data center and make it available free of charge to local district heating networks or other local heat users.

“ We are proud to further expand our long-standing collaboration with Google through this project in France. Data centers are becoming an important part of our energy systems and their development must go hand in hand with additional renewable energy generation, flexibility and close integration with local infrastructure and communities. ENGIE can bring together its expertise across renewable power, energy management, storage and local energy infrastructures to help design an integrated approach for the Châteauroux project, working closely with Google and the local ecosystem” said Edouard Neviaski, ENGIE’s Executive Vice President in charge of Supply & Energy Management. 

 “ Our proposed project in Châteauroux is designed to support the local community. By teaming up with ENGIE, we will explore innovative solutions in grid flexibility, clean energy generation, and energy efficiency, ensuring our data center integrates responsibly and locally ” said Aris Karcanias, EMEA Head of Energy & Infrastructure at Google.

The MoU builds on a long-standing relationship between the two companies. In 2021, ENGIE and Google pioneered Europe’s first Carbon-Free Energy (CFE) Manager model in Germany . This global partnership has since expanded to cover diverse clean energy solutions across several markets, including Germany , Belgium , the United Kingdom and the United States of America , supporting Google’s goals to advance long-term grid resilience and decarbonization.