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France: Solar farm Cahuzac-sur-Adour commissioned

Published in: Solar, Press Releases

France: Solar farm Cahuzac-sur-Adour commissioned image

On Friday, 28 November, Q ENERGY celebrated the official inauguration of the 8.5 MW Cahuzac-sur-Adour solar park in the Occitanie region of France together with numerous local representatives.

The conversion of a former quarry site for the benefit of the local area

The project site is classified as an ICPE (Classified Installation for Environmental Protection). It was used between 1993 and 2019 for grinding, crushing, and screening materials. Its conversion into a solar power plant represents the redevelopment of an already artificial space, supporting the development of the region and the production of renewable energy.

Thanks to the installation of 14,500 solar panels across the site's 7.5 hectares, nearly 5,000 people now benefit from renewable energy, and around 2,600 tonnes of CO₂ are avoided each year. This project is in line with the national plan to increase the use of renewable energies to 32% of gross final energy consumption by 2030, as well as with the regional strategy of Occitanie, which aims to become an "energy-positive region" by 2050.

Cahuzac is the first park built by Q ENERGY in the Gers department, although the company has been active in the Occitanie region for a long time. With 12 solar parks and 14 wind farms developed and/or built by Q ENERGY in Occitanie, almost 400,000 people now benefit from renewable energy supplies.

“This project was led in an exemplary manner by the teams at Q Energy. Collaboration with local elected officials enabled the development of a solar farm that is well integrated into its territory and whose economic benefits will enable local authorities to carry out projects and investments,” declares Maud Gaide, Solar Director at Q ENERGY.

An environmentally ambitious redevelopment

The solar power plant combines clean energy generation with an exemplary ecological approach. This involves adapting fences to allow small wildlife to move unhindered, installing amphibian barriers, planting hedges and sowing seeds on the site over the next few months.

Furthermore, three additional measures are planned for the site. The first of these has already been completed and was the creation of hibernacula to provide shelter for reptiles, amphibians and insects. The other two measures, which will be implemented shortly, involve installing educational panels near the Adour hiking trail to raise public awareness of biodiversity and energy transition issues, and reshaping an embankment to encourage European bee-eaters to settle there. The enclosed nature of the site, combined with favourable vegetation management under the panels and the conservation of senescent trees, will provide ideal conditions for this species to recolonise the area.

“The entire team working on this project was committed to developing a project that is consistent with environmental protection values. It is important that our green electricity production projects respect the natural characteristics of the sites on which they are located and enhance their ecological value”, explains Véronique Sauzay, Regional Solar Manager at Q ENERGY. 

This image is copyrighted by Absoludrones.

About Q ENERGY 

Q ENERGY is Europe's provider of holistic solutions for green power plants. The company is active along the entire value chain of renewable energy projects - from solar parks, onshore and offshore wind projects to energy storage solutions and hybrid power plants. Nearly 600 employees in the Berlin headquarters and further international offices are currently driving a development pipeline of 8.5 GW across Europe. Building on more than 25 years of experience and +2.5 GW completed renewable energy assets, Q ENERGY is currently active in Spain, Portugal, France, and Germany as well as in Italy. Together with its independent sister company Hanwha Qcells, Q ENERGY forms the energy division of its mother company and top-tier Korean enterprise Hanwha Solutions Corporation.

For more information, visit www.qenergy.eu. 

Press Contact

Q ENERGY France   
Carmen Lepadatu
Communications Manager    
+33 7 72 24 97 59    
carmen.lepadatu@qenergy.eu

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