In a surprising turn of events, TotalEnergies announced that it is abandoning the Maya solar project in French Guiana — an initiative launched in 2019 aimed at strengthening the energy independence of the region in the face of the frequent instability of the electrical network. This project was one of the company’s most significant renewable energy investments in France, with a planned budget of 200 million euros.
Why was the project abandoned?
TotalEnergies cited the loss of support from the public sector as the main reason for halting the project. The French government recently launched a consultation on its updated Multiannual Energy Plan (PPE), which defines the national energy policy until 2035. According to this document, there is no current need for dispatchable energy production near Cayenne, the capital city.
Although solar energy is naturally intermittent, the Maya project aimed to make solar energy “dispatchable” — meaning electricity could be supplied on demand — by integrating battery storage. The plan included a 120 MW photovoltaic power plant connected to a 240 MWh battery system, designed to provide continuous green power for Cayenne, especially at night when solar panels do not produce energy.
This installation would have delivered about 20 megawatts of reliable renewable energy and created 32 local jobs. TotalEnergies described it as a vital step toward achieving energy autonomy in French Guiana, representing about a third of the way there.
Local leaders express their disappointment
The mayor of Macouria, where the solar farm was to be built, expressed strong disappointment: “French Guiana cannot afford to lose such a crucial project.” Albéric Benth, president of the local energy union (Smeguy), stated that the community had received neither clear explanations regarding the cancellation of the project, nor adequate information about changes in energy policy.
Similarly, Jean-Luc Le West, vice president of the French Guiana territorial community responsible for economic development, found it discouraging that a major investor like TotalEnergies had not received the expected support.
Marie-Lucienne Rattier, a territorial adviser focused on digital development, acknowledged that she could understand TotalEnergies’ decision to withdraw if the company felt abandoned. Her own ambitious project — a data center and digital village valued at 480 million euros — was planned near the Maya site to benefit from its constant solar energy. Now, this initiative faces a significant setback.
What does the Multiannual Energy Plan (PPE) mean for solar in French Guiana?
The PPE sets the energy roadmap for France from 2025 to 2035, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050. Its recent revisions seem to shift the focus away from new dispatchable solar projects near Cayenne, impacting plans like Maya.
The government is currently gathering the final public feedback before officially publishing the updated plan in early April. The decision-making process highlights the complexity of balancing ambitious renewable energy goals with evolving energy demands and infrastructure considerations.
