TotalEnergies and Lhoist inaugurate Lhoist’s photovoltaic plant at Valverde, Santarém
Date of publication 06.03.25
This photovoltaic installation at Lhoist Lusical is the result of the partnership announced in 2022, strengthening both companies’ efforts toward the energy transition and regional benefits.
Santarem, March 6, 2025
TotalEnergies, global integrated energy company, and Lhoist, one of the world's leading producers of lime, dolime and mineral solutions, inaugurated today a photovoltaic plant located at the Lusical factory, in the municipality of Santarém. This innovative project will allow the factory to reduce its environmental footprint through the use of renewable energy, aligning with the global strategy of the Lhoist Group.
This new photovoltaic plant has an installed capacity of 3.2 MWp, consisting of approximately 5,500 high-efficiency photovoltaic panels, covering an area of about 5 hectares. It will be capable of generating around 5.4 GWh of renewable electricity annually.
The photovoltaic plant will be operated by TotalEnergies and will cover a significant portion of the factory's consumption (close to 30%), reducing dependence on the electrical grid and minimizing operational costs through renewable energy produced directly on-site. This production is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 1,500 tons per year.
The installation of this photovoltaic plant was conducted by TotalEnergies, a global leader in energy, ensuring cutting-edge technology and an optimized management system to maximize solar generation efficiency. Committed to continuous improvement and innovation, TotalEnergies will use cleaning robots on the PV panels to limit the impact of dirt on the surface of the solar panels and thus optimize the performance of this photovoltaic system.
Strategic partnership between Lhoist Lusical and TotalEnergies
This partnership follows an initial exclusive agreement signed between the Lhoist and TotalEnergies groups for the co-development of photovoltaic power plants at various Lhoist facilities on the Iberian Peninsula. In total, more than 14,000 photovoltaic panels will cover almost 30% of the electricity consumption of Lhoist's facilities with renewable energy produced directly on-site. The project for Lhoist Iberia includes the installation of ground-mounted solar systems at three company locations: Tiebas in Navarre, Estepa in Seville, and Santarém in Portugal.
Our distributed generation solutions have been sold in more than 30 countries on all continents. Thanks to the trust and proximity we have established with our B2B clients, such as Lhoist, the dedication of our teams, and the experience of our Company, we are celebrating today a new stepping stone of the growth of our distributed generation activities in Portugal. This installation brings new decarbonized energy, as well as a positive impact on customer’s efficiency.
Timur Nuñez-Yanowsky, Head of Renewables Distributed Generation Iberia at TotalEnergies.
This new photovoltaic park developed in partnership with TotalEnergies marks a key milestone in our decarbonization strategy. Beyond this transition to solar energy, our broader approach also includes the shift toward low-carbon or decarbonized fuels, such as biomass. At Lhoist, we firmly believe that reducing our carbon footprint requires a diversified energy mix, combining innovation with environmental responsibility.
Juan Martinez, Director of Operations Iberia, at Lhoist Southern Europe.
Positive impact on the region
Furthermore, this initiative positions the region as a more sustainable and innovative industrial hub, opening doors for new investments aligned with the energy transition. The collaboration between Lhoist Lusical and TotalEnergies demonstrates how synergies between industry and the energy sector can drive sustainable innovation.