Neoen, a prominent French renewable energy producer, has initiated construction on four solar projects totaling 104.4 MWp, securing its position as the leading awardee in the French Energy Regulation Commission’s (CRE) recent PPE2 call for tenders. The projects, ranging from 14.4 to 30 MWp, underscore Neoen’s dominance in the ground, building, and technology-neutral categories within the CRE5 round.
Three of the awarded projects adopt an innovative agrivoltaic approach, integrating sheep farming with solar power generation. The Geloux project in Landes involves the expansion of a 14.4 MWp solar farm on municipal forestry plots, building on Neoen’s existing 7.2 MWp solar farm in the area since 2014. In Mayenne, the Brisanne solar farm (30 MWp) stands as one of the pioneering agrisolar initiatives, preserving sheep farming activities while creating additional full-time employment.
The Villegongis project (30 MWp) in Indre and the Réchicourt-le-Château project (30 MWp) in Moselle are both agrivoltaic parks, dedicating land to sheep farming alongside solar power generation. Neoen has collaborated with local agricultural colleges and institutes to promote agrivoltaism, fostering partnerships to engage young farmers in the projects.
This success adds to Neoen’s impressive achievements in French government tenders this year, with a cumulative capacity of 475.5 MWp in solar and wind projects. The company intends to commission the newly awarded photovoltaic power plants between 2025 and 2028, with their combined output expected to meet the annual electricity needs of at least 50,000 people in France.
Guillaume Decaen, French Development Director of Neoen, expressed gratitude for the team’s efforts and highlighted the record-setting achievement of securing half a gigawatt in French government tenders this year. Xavier Barbaro, Chairman and CEO of Neoen, emphasized the company’s commitment to competitiveness and value creation, positioning Neoen as a robust player in the renewable energy sector in France and beyond.
