In a bold move that could reshape the energy landscape for telecoms and waste management, SUEZ has inked a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with Bouygues Telecom. Starting January 2027, SUEZ will supply 53 gigawatt hours (GWh) annually of low-carbon energy, derived from household waste recovery, over a 15-year period. This isn’t just a business deal; it’s a statement of intent from both companies to drive decarbonisation and energy transition.
SUEZ, with this PPA, is doubling down on its strategic plan to boost the energy and environmental performance of its facilities. The revenue from this agreement will be funneled back into upgrading waste-to-energy plants across France. David Lamy, CEO of SUEZ’s waste business unit in France and director of the SUEZ Foundation, puts it bluntly: “Waste is a valuable resource.” He sees waste-to-energy as a cornerstone of SUEZ’s strategy to support customers’ energy transitions, and this PPA with Bouygues Telecom as a significant milestone.
For Bouygues Telecom, this PPA is a key plank in its climate strategy. The telecom giant is aiming to meet its electricity needs through renewable sources, and this agreement is a substantial step towards that goal. Over the duration of the PPA, Bouygues Telecom plans to source a total of 800GWh. This isn’t just about buying clean energy; it’s about investing in it. The agreement includes investments in renewable energy certificates, and it’s all part of Bouygues Telecom’s validated science-based targets initiative (SBTi) to reduce emissions by 29.4% for Scope 1 and 2, and by 17.5% for Scope 3, using 2021 as the baseline year.
Eric Laurent, Bouygues Telecom’s purchasing director, highlights the strategic benefits: “This partnership diversifies our PPA portfolio and provides long-term price visibility.” But it’s not just about financial stability. The guaranteed baseload electricity profile ensures a 24/7 power supply, which is crucial for a telecom company.
This PPA follows hot on the heels of SUEZ’s agreement with French retailer Carrefour in June 2025, where SUEZ will deliver renewable electricity to Carrefour’s stores in France starting 2026. These deals signal a trend: waste-to-energy is becoming a serious player in the renewable energy mix. But it’s not just about the energy. It’s about the message. It’s about challenging norms, sparking debate, and driving change.
This news should make other telecoms and industrial players sit up and take notice. If Bouygues Telecom can commit to such a significant waste-to-energy PPA, why can’t others? And for waste management companies, this is a wake-up call. If SUEZ can turn waste into a valuable resource, what’s stopping others from doing the same? The energy sector is watching, and the stakes are high. This PPA isn’t just about energy; it’s about the future of waste, the future of telecoms, and the future of our planet.