- TotalEnergies cancelled the €200 million Maya solar project in French Guiana due to a lack of support and revised energy policies.
- Local officials expressed frustration over the decision, warning it could harm investment prospects and affect other regional projects.
- The government’s updated energy plan, which is subject to public consultation, will be finalized by April, impacting the future of renewable projects in the region.
TotalEnergies has cancelled the Maya solar power plant project in French Guiana due to a lack of support as France revises its national energy plan. The €200 million project, launched in 2019, aimed to boost local energy stability through solar power and storage. However, the company now finds the project unviable under the new energy policy framework.
The Maya plant, located in Macouria, aimed to generate 20 megawatts of continuous power by combining 120 megawatt-peak solar panels with 240 megawatt-hours of batteries. It intended to enhance French Guiana’s energy independence and address the frequent power supply instability. TotalEnergies saw Maya as essential for meeting one-third of the region’s energy needs.
The cancellation follows the government’s launch of a public consultation on the updated multiannual energy programme (PPE), which outlines France’s energy policy until 2035. The revised PPE, released in February, rules out the need for additional power generation near Cayenne, where the Maya project was set. This decision undermined the project’s necessity, leading TotalEnergies to halt it.
Local officials expressed frustration over the lack of communication. Albéric Benth, president of the Syndicat Mixte d’Énergie de Guyane (Smeguy), criticised the lack of information about the PPE’s impact on Maya. Jean-Luc Le West, vice president of economic development at the Collectivité Territoriale de Guyane (CTG), warned that ending the project could damage the region’s investment appeal.
The cancellation also threatens other economic projects in the area. Marie-Lucienne Rattier, territorial councillor in charge of digital affairs, highlighted risks to her €480 million data centre and digital village project. She relied on the Maya plant for stable energy, and its absence now puts the project’s future in doubt.
The revised energy plan will be finalised after a public consultation. A decree to adopt the new policy should be issued in early April. Local leaders are worried about the future of renewable energy investment in French Guiana after Maya’s cancellation.
Maya’s termination represents a setback for the region’s energy ambitions, as the plant played a key role in stabilising the electricity grid. It also raises questions about the direction of France’s renewable energy policies, especially in overseas territories like French Guiana, where energy challenges persist.
TotalEnergies’ decision highlights the difficulties renewable energy projects face in regions with changing regulatory environments. As France refines its energy strategy, future projects like Maya may depend on closer alignment with national policies and stronger local backing.