• Neoen launches the construction of three new solar farms in France, which are all scheduled to be operational by 2028
• Le Couret agrisolar farm (147 MWp) is located in the Haute-Vienne department
• Isle-sur-Marne (48 MWp) solar farm and Matignicourt floating solar farm (35 MWp) are both located in La Marne
• Construction of the farms and the two substations connected to the French electricity transmission system RTE has been entrusted to Equans Solar & Storage

Neoen, France’s leading independent producer of exclusively renewable energy, has provided Bouygues subsidiary Equans Solar & Storage with notices to proceed for three solar farms and two 225 KV substations which will connect to the RTE network, thereby signaling the start of construction. Neoen will be the owner and long-term operator of the assets, while Equans will undertake the maintenance for a 20-year period. The assets are expected to be operational by 2028.

Le Couret agrisolar farm, was developed in close consultation with local authorities in Lussac-les-Eglises and Saint-Martin-le-Mault in the Haute-Vienne department. Sized at 147 MWp and covering 170 hectares it will be Neoen’s largest agrisolar project in France. Launched in 2018, Le Couret was developed with input from the local chamber of agriculture, which played an active role in selecting the farmer. This young livestock farmer will be assisted by two apprentices from the vocational training center in nearby Bellac. The chamber of agriculture will provide technical support for the management of the 700sheep while Neoen is upgrading and building new farm buildings.

In line with the 25-year power purchase agreement signed in June 2024 with SNCF Energie for the supply of green energy for trains, the electricity produced by the farm will cover the equivalent of the annual supply for the high-speed Paris-Marseille line^[1]. 

Matignicourt (35 MWp) and Isle-sur-Marne (48 MWp) solar farms are both being built on land managed by the federation of municipalities of Perthois-Bocage and Der, in the department of La Marne. The projects were awarded in 2024 under the French government’s energy regulation commission (CRE) call for tenders. Located 1 kilometre apart, they are built on a former quarry. The farms will be connected to a high-voltage substation located 9 kilometres to the north, in the commune of Favresse.

Matignicourt is Neoen’s first floating solar farm. The solar panels will be installed over four lakes, and there are also two ground-mounted areas. In accordance with the “Avoid, Reduce, Compensate” philosophy, Neoen has devised a bird nesting raft, and biohuts (artificial nurseries) to encourage the development of marine life. 

The Isle-sur-Marne solar farm will be the largest solar farm in La Marne.  It will be ground-mounted on the site of a disused quarry, giving it a new lease of life.

Neoen has now reached close to 1.5 GW of solar capacity under construction or in operation in France, strengthening its position as one of the country’s leading players. The company also has a strong development pipeline of solar, 70% of which combines agriculture with solar. 

Guillaume Decaen – Neoen France CEO, said: “We are delighted to see these projects under way. They are among France’s largest solar farms. They perfectly reflect our ambition to develop large-scale projects that demonstrate the full range of expertise, with the support of local authorities. We are pleased to broaden our relationship with RTE thanks to the two new private substations directly linked to their power network.”

Elisabeth Benedetto, Equans CEO declared: “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. 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. This unique synergy enables us to support the large-scale deployment of photovoltaics and their integration into the grid, thereby accelerating the energy transition alongside our customers. “

Xavier Barbaro – Neoen Group CEO, concluded: “I congratulate our team in France for these impressive achievements. We are proud to be France’s leading independent solar power producer and to be able to offer our major industrial customers clean, locally sourced, competitive electricity and innovative energy solutions. In 2026, we intend to further accelerate the energy transition in France and around the world.”

[1] Press Release 10 June 2024: Neoen signs a corporate power purchase agreement with SNCF Energie for 139 MWp of solar energy – Neoen