Development of ground-mounted photovoltaic projects
Solar energy
PNE France develops, finances, builds and operates ground-mounted photovoltaic projects.
This includes seeking agricultural partners, evaluating high-quality sites, securing agricultural land contracts, actively considering territorial specificities, and developing and constructing turnkey agrivoltaics projects. From opportunity initiation to project decommissioning: we are your trusted, competent, and reliable partner.
We ensure the development of photovoltaic projects with transparency and based on the broadest possible consensus, involving all local stakeholders. That's why we work with local authorities, farmers, and landowners.
Agrivoltaics
Benefits and objectives
Agrivoltaics is a practice combining agricultural production (livestock, large-scale crops, arboriculture, market gardening, aromatic or medicinal plants, etc.) and energy production on the same plot, while providing at least one of the following benefits:
- Improvement of agronomic potential and impact,
- Adaptation to climate change,
- Protection against risks,
- Improvement of animal welfare.
At PNE France, we are committed to actively participating in the energy transition as well as food sovereignty.
Our objective: To make solar energy an asset for the development of regions.
Our actions aim to:
- Secure farmers’ tools and resources,
- Help maximize the value of their farms,
- Support the transfer and takeover by young farmers,
- Create jobs and generate local value.
Promoting Local Benefits
Local value through shared benefits
Beyond their local energy production, solar farms provide sustainable supplementary income for landowners and farmers. They also generate financial resources for local communities and contribute to the development of facilities or services that enhance the attractiveness of the area. At every stage of the project, PNE France strives to involve local and regional businesses, thereby contributing to local economic growth and job creation.
PNE France project managers develop projects in close collaboration with elected officials and local stakeholders. The goal is to openly discuss raised concerns, ensure equal access to information for all stakeholders, and foster collective engagement around a regional project.
Our solutions
Opportunities for your project
We adapt our solutions to your farming and livestock practices, not the other way around!
The farmer is central (as the expert in the agriculture project) and we (PNE France, expert developers) work alongside you to develop customized solutions (number of panels, height, row spacing, turning paths, access, infrastructure, etc.). Our solutions are dynamic and adaptable. They are designed to support your primary activities and adjust to evolving livestock and agricultural practices in the coming years.
Benefits:
- Extended grazing periods and improved pasture quality,
- Protection of livestock from predators and contamination,
- Increased animal welfare (climate events),
- Improved water distribution,
- Support for agricultural investment (equipment),
- Guaranteed additional income.
Benefits:
- Reduced evapotranspiration: Water savings,
- Protection against climate risks (thermal stress and weather events),
- Improved agronomic potential and economic performance of the farm,
- Support for agricultural investment (equipment),
- Guaranteed additional income.
Development
Individual project planning
Selecting the most appropriate photovoltaic solution for the site
PNE France works with all solar solution providers to define the best installation for the project and its environment.
Ensuring the most suitable landscape integration
Landscape architects identify heritage challenges (historic monuments, remarkable sites, landscape typologies). Photomontages are used alongside cartographic studies to evaluate visual impacts and the integration of the project into the landscape. The integration of a photovoltaic park into the natural environment is crucial for the social acceptability of the project. The final site layout depends on expert analysis as well as early-stage consultation with local stakeholders.
Respecting biodiversity
Ecology experts catalog animal and plant species over a full biological cycle. The sensitivity level defined by the study allows for the proposal of suitable measures to avoid, reduce, and compensate for impacts if necessary.
Ensuring the safety and peace of local residents and site users
The PNE Group has developed over 11 GW of projects and is widely recognized by partners and clients for building installations that strictly comply with regulations and respect host territories. Site placements are chosen to ensure public safety and preserve the quality of life.
Financing
Sound financing concepts as the basis for a successful project
The prerequisite for bringing a project to fruition is ensuring secured financing. This requires a thorough analysis and optimization of construction and operational costs. Integrity and reliability are decisive factors in obtaining solid and competitive financing, which are the foundations of a project’s success.
Our projects benefit from long-standing cooperation with various financial institutions. We maintain ongoing relationships with banks and insurance companies to ensure optimal financing. Our experts continually monitor profitability calculations and liquidity planning throughout each project.
Our answers to frequently asked questions
MWp means megawatt peak. This describes the peak power that a photovoltaic system can generate under standard conditions. It is also called nominal power. Technologically, this corresponds to direct current power.
There are various options for what to do with a PV system that has been dismantled:
1. Reuse: It may be possible to reuse parts of the PV system, such as the PV modules, inverters and mounting systems, in other projects. They could either be relocated to another site or integrated into other PV systems.
2. Recycling: If it is no longer possible to reuse the components or these have become obsolete, they can be recycled. PV modules are made from different materials such as glass, metals and plastics that can be recovered and recycled in other products.
3. Disposal: In some cases, components of a PV system that can neither be reused or recycled must be disposed of properly. This is usually done in accordance with local environmental regulations and may involve the safe disposal of certain materials or substances.
PV systems themselves are not toxic. The main components of PV systems are PV modules, which are made of materials such as silicon, glass, metal compounds and plastics. These materials are not normally toxic.
However, there are some important points to consider:
1. Toxic materials used in manufacture: The manufacture of PV modules can involve the use of certain chemical substances that can be potentially harmful to the environment. However, most manufacturers have implemented strict environmental rules and processes to ensure the correct handling and disposal of these substances.
2. Disposal of PV modules: PV modules have a long service life, but if they need to be disposed of, this must be done in accordance with the applicable local regulations.
It is important to keep in mind that PV systems are generally considered environmentally friendly and sustainable. They produce clean energy and contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Their potential environmental impacts are largely associated with the correct manufacture, installation and disposal of the systems.
A fire in ground-mounted PV systems can be dangerous, but the risks are manageable. There are some important points to consider:
1. Risk of fire: PV modules are made of non-combustible materials such as glass and metal. The modules themselves thus do not increase the risk of fire. But ground-mounted PV systems are at risk because of the dry grass or other combustible materials accumulating under the PV modules, which could contribute to a fire.
2. Fire-fighting: In the event of a fire in a ground-mounted PV system, appropriate fire-fighting measures must be taken. These may include calling the fire brigade, using fire extinguishers or deploying other suitable extinguishing facilities. The specific measures depend on local regulations and conditions.
3. Spread of fires: One particular challenge faced by ground-mounted PV systems is how to prevent the spread of fires. The PV modules are usually arranged in rows and a fire in one PV module can spread to neighbouring PV modules. This makes it important to have appropriate safety measures in place, such as sufficient spacing between rows, fire zones and extinguishing equipment, so that the fire can be prevented from spreading.
4. Safety regulations: Ground-mounted PV systems are governed by national and regional safety regulations which include fire protection. These regulations may outline minimum distancing requirements from combustible materials, installation of fire-fighting systems or other measures to minimise the risk of fire.
It is important to ensure that ground-mounted PV systems are designed, installed and maintained in line with the applicable regulations so as to minimise the risk of fire and to be able to respond appropriately in the event of a fire. Compliance with safety standards and staff training are both crucial to reduce the risk of fires and ensure system safety.
