Neoen has launched construction of three new solar farms in France with a combined capacity of 230MWp and scheduled to be operational by 2028.
The company said notices to proceed have been issued to Equans Solar & Storage for the farms and two 225kV substations connecting to the RTE network.
According to Neoen, it will own and operate the assets long term while Equans will provide maintenance for 20 years.
Le Couret agrisolar farm in the Haute-Vienne department totals 147MWp and was developed with Lussac-les-Eglises, Saint-Martin-le-Mault and the local chamber of agriculture.
The project covers 170 hectares and includes support for a young livestock farmer and two apprentices as well as facilities for managing 700 sheep.
The electricity will supply the equivalent annual demand of the high-speed Paris-Marseille line under a 25-year PPA signed in June 2024 with SNCF Energie.
Matignicourt (35MWp) and Isle-sur-Marne (48MWp) lie one kilometre apart on land managed by the Perthois-Bocage and Der municipalities in La Marne.
The projects were awarded in 2024 under the CRE tender and will connect to a substation in Favresse nine kilometres to the north.
Matignicourt is Neoen’s first floating solar farm, featuring panels over four lakes and two ground-mounted areas alongside measures including a bird-nesting raft and biohuts.
Isle-sur-Marne will be the largest solar farm in La Marne and is located on a disused quarry.
Neoen now has close to 1.5GW of solar capacity under construction or in operation in France.
Guillaume Decaen, Neoen France chief executive, said: “We are delighted to see these projects under way.”
He added: “They are among France’s largest solar farms.”
Elisabeth Benedetto, Equans chief executive, said: “We are very honored to be working with the Neoen teams on the construction of these three solar farms, and we thank them for their renewed trust.”
She stated: “At Equans Solar & Storage, we combine our proven expertise in large solar farms, our experience in innovative projects such as floating solar, and our recognized know-how in the T&D field, particularly in substations for RTE.”
Xavier Barbaro, Neoen group chief executive, said: “I congratulate our team in France for these impressive achievements.”