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Q ENERGY France and its partners inaugurate today an agrivoltaic prototype in Vendée

On June 28 2022, Céline Spitzhorn, Director of Solar at Q ENERGY France, accompanied by representatives of the Chamber of Agriculture Pays de la Loire, the Department, the Community of Communes Sud Vendée Littoral as well as the municipal teams of Magnils-Reigniers and Luçon, inaugurated an agrivoltaic prototype comprising hop crops in the town of Luçon in the Vendée.

Q ENERGY France and its partners inaugurate today an agrivoltaic prototype in Vendée

OnJune 28 2022, Céline Spitzhorn, Director of Solar at Q ENERGY France, accompanied by representatives of the Chamber of Agriculture Pays de la Loire, the Department, the Community of Communes Sud Vendée Littoral as well as the municipal teams of Magnils-Reigniers and Luçon, inaugurated an agrivoltaic prototype comprising hop crops in the town of Luçon in the Vendée.
Composed of two structures equipped with agrivoltaic solar panels and comprising 52 bifacial solar modules, the prototype has been growing hops since March 2022. This is an innovative agrivoltaic project, combining hop crops and solar energy production, which aims, in the long term, at a project of 35 ha for a potential installed capacity of 20 MW.   

 

An innovative project, co-constructed with local stakeholders

This project is the result of a reflection initiated by the teams of Q ENERGY France, in partnership with the owner of the site where the prototype is installed, who was a driving force during the development and implementation phase.

"This is an innovative and complex prototype that combines agricultural viability and solar potential while winning the support of all stakeholders. A complex challenge since there was no feedback on this type of project yet. It is for all these reasons that we are delighted to inaugurate this prototype today, alongside all the stakeholders in the region who have contributed to its accomplishment," said Céline Spitzhorn, Director of Solar at Q ENERGY France.

 

A monitoring system carried out by the Pays de la Loire Chamber of Agriculture

Comprising 52 bifacial solar modules, the prototype is currently being tested on an area of about 1 ha. A 2-year follow-up is in progress on the prototype as well as on the test plot, taking into account a protocol validated by the Chamber of Agriculture of Pays de la Loire. It consists of a follow-up of the yield and the climatic, pedological and light quality characteristics as well as a comparative analysis of the efficiency of the systems and their ease of operation.

To perfect the project, Q ENERGY France will organize meetings and exchanges to rethink and improve the system, which, once finalized, would have a potential installed capacity of 20 MW and would cover an area of about 35 ha.

 

A project that is part of the local economy and promotes short circuits

In addition to producing electricity, the hop crops will be able to supply the 24 microbreweries and breweries in the Vendée, and ultimately reduce the majority of hop imports from abroad. The territory can be proud to offer to the inhabitants but also to the tourists a 100% craft and local product!

 

About Q ENERGY France:

Q ENERGY is a major player in the renewable energy market in France. Formerly part of the RES group, the company has been involved in the development, construction and operation of wind and solar projects for 23 years. Now also positioned in the energy storage market, Q ENERGY continues to expand into new areas such as green hydrogen, in order to offer smart and global solutions for the production and supply of sustainable energy in France. The company has more than 200 collaborators and 6 agencies in the country as well as a head office based in Avignon. Q ENERGY France is a company of the European holding Q ENERGY Solutions, based in Berlin and created in 2021 to lead the next generation of green and flexible energy production in Europe.

www.qenergy.eu

 

Media contacts
L’AgenceRP
qenergy@lagencerp.com
Raya Rizk I T +33 7 85 15 22 40
Camille Techer I T +33 7 62 15 76 99

 


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