Total will deepen its footprint in renewables with the €1.4bn ($1.73bn) acquisition of Direct Energie, a French energy group that boasts a 2.5GW clean power portfolio alongside its gas operations.

The French fossil major said the agreed purchase of 74% of Direct Energies’ shares is the latest step in its strategy to have a 10GW gas-plus-renewables power generation capacity globally within five years.