(Yicai Global) Jan. 10 -- France's electric utility giant Electricite De France, better known as EDF, signed contracts on energy services contracts with the municipal governments of Sanya and Lingbao in South China's Hainan province. The agreements coincide with French President Emmanuel Macron's official visit to China.

EDF [EPA:EDF] and Sanya city government reached a 30-year contract, which covers the design, construction and operation of a network of chilled water and sanitation hot-water production stations, providing cooling service for Haitang Bay area, online news outlet Jiemian News reported, quoting EDF. The network will provide service to nearly 20 hotels, shopping and elderly care centers, representing 3.4 million square meters of effective surface area. Sanya, with its tropical climate, is one of China's top tourist destinations.

Based on high performance equipment combined with solar panels and a smart operating system, the network enables CO2 emissions to be reduced by 20 percent compared to the use of individual systems, such as up to 70,000 tons of less CO2 per year. It will be jointly operated with the local partner, ChangFeng Energy Inc., said the French company.

EDF has also concluded a 30-year concession contract with Lingbao city to build and operate a 35-MW biomass cogeneration plant. The facility will supply electricity and heating for around 25,000 homes in the city. The municipality will be able to stop using individual coal-fired boilers right after the commissioning of the facility scheduled for 2019, thus reducing CO2 by 150,000 tons per year, a statement said. The plant will be supplied with biomass waste, providing additional income for the local farmers.

Operating in China for more than 30 years, the EDF works in several segments of the energy market, including nuclear power, renewable energy and energy services.