French Environmental Services Provider to Develop Over 40 Solar Projects, Generating 300 MW of Renewable Energy
Veolia, a leading environmental services provider in France, has announced its ambitious initiative to install solar panels on restored landfill sites across the country.
The company intends to develop more than 40 solar projects on selected non-hazardous restored landfills, with an overall capacity of 300 MW of renewable energy. These photovoltaic (PV) projects will span approximately 400 hectares, providing sufficient energy to power the consumption needs of 130,000 inhabitants.
Veolia has outlined its goal to have the first plants operational by 2027, marking a significant step toward enhancing France’s renewable energy infrastructure.
In addition to its plans for non-hazardous landfill sites, Veolia is concurrently exploring the feasibility of solar power plants on hazardous waste landfill sites and on sites managed on behalf of its industrial clients. Collectively, these locations could potentially accommodate over 400 MW of solar PV installations.
Commenting on the initiative, Veolia highlighted the challenges posed by limited land availability and complex permitting processes in France, underscoring the need for innovative solutions to overcome these obstacles.
Estelle Brachlianoff, CEO of Veolia, emphasized the company’s commitment to maximizing energy production from its facilities, stating, “For several months, we have been screening all our sites in order to use every appropriate space to maximize energy production. From now on, our landfills, most of which already produce biogas or biomethane, will also be able to produce photovoltaic energy.”
Brachlianoff outlined Veolia’s ambitious targets for the rollout of PV projects, aiming for over 40 installations within the next three to four years. However, she also called for expedited administrative processes and streamlined procedures to accelerate progress in addressing energy sovereignty and decarbonization challenges.
Recent data from French grid operator Enedis indicates a notable growth in France’s solar market, with a 30% increase observed last year, resulting in 3.15 GW of new PV installations. Veolia’s initiative aligns with broader efforts to advance renewable energy adoption and contribute to the country’s sustainable development goals.