Baywa re Completes 136 MW Solar Projects on Former Military Bases in France
Baywa re has completed the construction of two major solar clusters on former military bases in central and southwestern France. The five solar parks, with a total capacity of 136 megawatts and over 300,000 modules, are located on decommissioned military sites that required mine clearance before construction could begin.
Two of the solar parks are situated on the disused La Martinerie military base near Châteauroux in central France. The "Greenberry" solar park was commissioned in 2021, and it has now been joined by the "Blueberry" plant, bringing the combined capacity of these two parks to 70 megawatts. The remaining three solar parks are located at the former Fontenet military base in Charente-Maritime, near La Rochelle. Two of these parks have been operational for several years, with the third recently coming online.
Before construction, the sites underwent extensive decontamination using pyrotechnics. Several grenades were recovered at Fontenet, and a 250-kilogram bomb was unearthed at La Martinerie in 2023. To maintain local biodiversity and minimize mechanical upkeep, Baywa re has implemented sheep grazing on both sites. Additionally, the company has taken steps to protect orchids, reptiles, and small mammals at the Greenberry and Blueberry plants. In Fontenet, Baywa re is also supporting the local community by installing solar panels on the roof of a municipal building.
"By transforming these former military areas, we achieve a triple benefit: ecologically, by converting them into pastureland; energy-wise, by installing solar panels; and climatically, by producing green electricity, which saves more than 58,000 tonnes of CO₂," explained Benoît Roux, Managing Director of Baywa re France.
Meanwhile, Baywa re's majority shareholder, the agricultural group Baywa, is facing financial difficulties. A restructuring report is expected by the end of September, which may lead to the reorganization of some areas, including the photovoltaic and wind energy project business managed by Baywa re. The minority shareholder, Swiss infrastructure investor EIP, has expressed interest in acquiring additional shares.
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