BayWa r.e. Completes 136 MW Solar Projects on Former Military Bases in France

BayWa r.e. has completed the construction of two solar clusters on former military bases in Central and South-West France. Covering a combined 151 hectares, these photovoltaic (PV) clusters consist of five solar farms with over 300,000 solar panels and a total capacity of 136 MWp.

At the former La Martinerie military base near Châteauroux in central France, two solar parks will produce 82 GWh of renewable electricity annually, enough to power 38,000 households. The 40 MWp “Greenberry” solar park was recently commissioned, while its predecessor, “Blueberry,” was commissioned in 2021 with a capacity of 30 MWp.

On the former Fontenet military base in Charente-Maritime, three PV parks—Fontenet I, II, and III—totaling 66 MWp, will also generate 82 GWh annually, supplying electricity to another 38,000 households. Fontenet I was completed in 2014, Fontenet II in 2022, and the construction of Fontenet III has just been finalized.

At the Greenberry and Blueberry farms, BayWa r.e. implemented measures to protect orchids, support reptile habitats, and provide safe passages for small wildlife. In Fontenet, BayWa r.e. also supported the local community by installing solar panels on a municipal building’s roof.

“We are proud to have successfully completed these exemplary projects. The conversion of these sites brings a triple benefit: in terms of ecology, with the transformation of former military sites into pasture land; in terms of energy, with a total of 136 MWp of installed solar capacity; and for the climate, with green energy production saving more than 58,000 tons of CO2,” said Benoît Roux, Managing Director of BayWa r.e. France.

“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”, added Céline Tran, Regional Director of Projects Europe South-West at BayWa r.e.