Solar clusters completed at former French military bases

German energy company BayWa r.e. has completed the construction of two solar clusters on two former military bases in Central and South-West France.

The clusters consist of five solar farms with a total capacity of 136MWp and cover 151 hectares.

On the former La Martinerie military base near Châteauroux, in the centre of France, two solar parks will produce 82GWh of renewable electricity each year. These include the 40MW Greenberry farm, commissioned recently, and the 30MW Blueberry farm, commissioned in 2021.

Three PV parks with a total capacity of 66MW are situated on the former Fontenet military base in Charente-Maritime. These include Fontenet I (completed in 2014), Fontenet II (completed in 2022), and the recently completed Fontenet III.

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The solar farms will also be used as agricultural land, with BayWa r.e. contracting leases with sheep farmers for both sites. Not only will this promote biodiversity, but will also minimise the need for mechanical work to maintain the parks. Baywa r.e. will also be implementing measures to protect orchids on site, as well as local wildlife and reptiles.

Céline Tran, regional director of Projects Europe South-West at BayWa r.e, commented in a statement: “This example for land rehabilitation as part of the energy transition represents yet another milestone for our innovative and local approach in France. With a strong regional footprint, we are committed to creating positive impacts and benefits for the local community. Renewable energies are truly an engine for rural and environmental development – not only solar energy, but also wind, as the French team just recently showcased with the 9 MW wind farm Quilly, sold in its entirety to the local community.”

Activities at the La Martinerie and Fontenet military bases date back to the first half of the 20th century. From 1951 to 1969, these bases hosted NATO forces before closing in the 2000s.

Due to the military activity that once occurred at these sites, the land had to undergo pyrotechnic decontamination before rehabilitation efforts could commence. Several shells were retrieved at Fontenet, and at La Martinerie, a 250 kg bomb was unearthed in 2023.