Voltalia has launched its new agrivoltaic demonstrator in Poisy, Haute-Savoie. This innovative project aims to explore the interaction between solar infrastructure and cattle farming.
As part of its mission-driven commitment to create positive environmental and societal impacts, Voltalia aims to have 50% of its solar power plants operating on co-used or repurposed land by 2027, up from 39% in 2023. Agrivoltaics, which combines agricultural activities with energy production on the same land, plays a crucial role in achieving this goal.
Building on previous projects that integrated solar energy with market gardening and sheep farming, Voltalia is now expanding into cattle farming. The Poisy demonstrator, with a capacity of 250 kilowatts, spans 7,820 m², of which 1,152 m² is covered by solar panels. This unique installation will assess the impact of photovoltaic systems on cattle, focusing on animal welfare, behavior, and forage production quality. The setup features six rows of solar panels at varying heights to compare the effects on cattle access to shade and the surrounding microclimate, while a control area without panels allows for comparative studies. Sébastien Clerc, Chief Executive Officer of Voltalia, says: “The commissioning of this demonstrator illustrates our commitment to innovate for a sustainable future that meets the needs of farms while contributing to the development of renewable energies. It’s an excellent step in our more general approach to maximize the co-use of land, one of our objectives as a Mission-driven company.”
The Poisy demonstrator was developed in collaboration with renowned livestock sector institutes and the Centre d’Élevage “Lucien Biset” in Poisy, managed by the Chambers of Agriculture of Ain, Isère, Savoie, and Haute-Savoie. These partners provide expertise in dairy farming, contributing to the project’s agronomic research, operational skills, and monitoring protocols.
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