French industrial gases and services multinational Air Liquide has announced its 1st long term power purchase agreement (PPA) for renewable energy in China from 200 MW wind and solar farms annually to be supplied by China Three Gorges Group.

It has entered the agreement with China Three Gorges subsidiaries China Three Gorges Renewables and China Three Gorges Corporation Jiangsu branch. Air Liquide does not specify the duration of the contract.

Power will be supplied from wind and solar farms in Jiangsu province. Air Liquide said it will use this renewable electricity for the production of industrial and medical gases and help reduce carbon emissions by up to 120,000 tons annually, compared to today’s emissions.

The agreement will come into force in January 2024 and produce gases with a lower carbon footprint at competitive prices. According to the French company that operates over 120 plants in China, this will enable its customers to add more renewable content in their end products.

“It will allow us to lower our carbon footprint but also to meet the growing demand from our customers for competitive low-carbon solutions,” said Member of the Air Liquide Group’s Executive Committee supervising Asia Pacific, Francois Abrial.

In China, it claims to have signed several short-term renewable and low-carbon PPAs, but this is its 1st long term PPA. It follows Air Liquide’s similar renewable energy deals elsewhere in the world in the US, South Africa and Europe.

（Picture: Veer）