French energy company TotalEnergies has unveiled major projects in both renewable energy and oil production, reflecting its strategy to balance clean energy growth with ongoing hydrocarbon output.

In Belgium, TotalEnergies partnered with Holcim to open a floating solar power facility in Obourg, Hainaut province. Built on a former chalk quarry now converted into a lake, the installation will supply electricity directly to Holcim’s cement operations, reducing emissions from energy-intensive production.

The project involved careful environmental design and over 700 meters of underground drilling to connect the floating panels to the onshore substation. Floating solar systems are increasingly popular worldwide as they save land and benefit from natural cooling, improving efficiency.

At the same time, TotalEnergies is boosting its oil output in Brazil through the Lapa South-West offshore project in the Santos Basin. Connected to an existing floating production, storage, and offloading unit, the expansion will add three new wells and raise production by around 25,000 barrels per day.

Nicolas Terraz noted that the project leverages existing infrastructure for “low-cost and low-emission” oil production, supporting the company’s plan to grow annual output by roughly three percent until 2030.

These twin projects highlight how energy companies are balancing investments in clean energy with ongoing demand for oil and gas, particularly in emerging markets.