Largest solar power stations in France
Top biggest solar photovoltaic power stations in France.
(Updated September 2024)
Solar power stations, PV farms 2024 in France
| Name | Location | State | Capacity MWp or MWAC (*) | Annual Output GWh | Land Size km² | On grid | Remarks | Developer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cestas |
300 |
350 |
2015 |
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|
Rosières-en-Haye |
115 |
367 ha |
2012 |
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|
Landes |
67.2 |
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|
Les Mées |
90 |
200 ha |
2011 |
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|
Maillebois |
60 |
2012 |
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|
Massangis |
56 |
2012 |
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|
Châteaudun Solar Park |
Châteaudun |
50 |
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|
Curbans |
33 |
130 ha |
2011 |
Solar power in France
Only in 2008 did France see a significant increase in solar PV installations. From a low point in 2009 to a high point in 2011, PV capacity nearly tenfold. Solar power in France grew steadily in 2015, reaching a total photovoltaic capacity of 6.6 gigawatts by the end of the year, delivering 6.7 Terawatt hours of electricity. France in 2015 ranked eighth in the world in terms of solar PV installed capacity. During the year, around 903 megawatts of new installations were established. EDF, a state-owned corporation, announced in 2018 to invest €25 billion in solar power generation and adopt green electricity prices, with the goal of "increasing 30 gigawatts of solar capacity in France between 2020 and 2035. Solar power capacity is expected to grow, with roughly 18–20 GW expected to be constructed by 2023. PV development has decreased since the peak year of 2011, when 1,700 MW was built, due to dwindling governmental support for new installations.
The Toul-Rosières Solar Park
This solar farm is located at the Toul-Rosières Air Base in France and has a capacity of 115 megawatts (MW). In the late 1950s, the Air Base housed the United States Air Force's 21st Fighter-Bomber Group, among several other organizations. This Solar park is operational and was constructed in 2011. The total cost of construction is around €430 million. It Owner(s) are EDF Énergies Nouvelles, Marguerite Fund, Sonnedix. The site area is around 907 acres
About 1.4 PV thin-film panels based on CdTe technology from the US firm First Solar are installed in the solar park. It covers an area of 910 acres.
The Cestas Solar Farm
This farm is situated in a 250-hectare area near Bordeaux, France. It is the largest in Europe, producing 350 GWh per year, enough to meet the household needs of Bordeaux's population. The factory, which was built and furnished in a record-breaking 10 months and commissioned on October 30, 2015, represents a €285 million investment.
Gabardan Solar Park
The Gabardan Solar Park is a photovoltaic power plant in France with a capacity of 67.5 megawatts (MW). It features 872,300 thin-film PV panels from First Solar, as well as a 2 MW pilot plant utilizing 11,100 solar trackers.
