French Paper Maker Gets Half Its Power From Renewables

A French paper manufacturer just secured enough renewable electricity to power half its operations for the next ten years, marking a major win in the push for cleaner industry.

TotalEnergies signed a deal with SWM to deliver 800 gigawatt-hours of renewable electricity across three French sites starting this month. That's enough energy to power roughly 150,000 homes annually, now going straight to manufacturing paper products without fossil fuels.

For SWM, the agreement isn't just about saving money. It's a decisive step toward slashing the company's direct emissions by 2033, securing clean power for facilities that run around the clock.

The deal showcases how major industries can transition away from carbon-heavy energy without shutting down production. SWM's factories will keep running 24/7, now powered by a mix of renewable sources and gas-fired backup that ensures reliability.

The Ripple Effect

This partnership represents more than one company going green. TotalEnergies has been signing similar deals with tech and manufacturing giants including Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Saint-Gobain, Air Liquide, and Orange.

The energy company aims to boost its electricity production by 20% every year, reaching 100 terawatt-hours by 2030. That's a fivefold increase from current levels, representing a massive shift in how one of Europe's biggest oil companies does business.

Each deal creates pressure and opportunity for other manufacturers to follow suit. When a papermaker can source half its French electricity from renewables, it raises the bar for competitors and proves the infrastructure exists to support industrial-scale clean energy.

The agreements also stabilize costs for manufacturers facing volatile energy markets. Locking in renewable power for a decade provides budget certainty while meeting sustainability commitments that increasingly matter to investors and customers.

SWM's move signals growing confidence that renewable energy can meet the demanding needs of heavy industry. Paper manufacturing requires consistent, high-volume power, making this deal a real-world test case for sectors beyond tech offices and data centers.

France's industrial heartland is quietly transforming, one long-term contract at a time, proving clean energy works at factory scale.