- A 172-hectare solar plant will be built, occupying 77 hectares with 100,000 photovoltaic modules.
- The plant will produce 75 GWh/year, with 60% going to Solvay's Tavaux and Saint Fons sites.
- The project will use rehabilitated land from Solvay's former soda ash plant in Grand Est, France.
- The plant is scheduled to be operational by the end of 2025.
Project Overview
Iberdrola and Solvay are collaborating on a new project to supply green electricity to Solvay's plants in Tavaux and Saint Fons, France. A 172-hectare site will be used to build a photovoltaic power plant, with 77 hectares dedicated to the solar installation featuring around 100,000 photovoltaic modules. The remaining area will focus on preservation measures to integrate the project into its surroundings.
Energy Production and Usage
The plant will produce nearly 75 gigawatt hours per year (GWh/year), making it one of the largest in Europe. Sixty percent of the green electricity generated will be allocated to Solvay's industrial sites in Tavaux and Saint Fons. This initiative is part of Iberdrola's "Energy Transition as a Service" (ETaaS) product portfolio, which aims to help companies reduce their carbon footprint.
Environmental and Economic Impact
The project will utilize rehabilitated land from Solvay's former soda ash plant in the Grand Est region of France, specifically in the communes of Herbitzheim-Willerwald-Sarralbe. This approach accelerates the ecological transformation of the economy by giving a second industrial life to brownfield sites. Additionally, the project will positively impact the local economy by creating jobs during both the construction and operation phases, with a significant local component in industrial supplies.
Timeline
The solar plant is scheduled to be operational by the end of 2025, contributing to Solvay's goal of achieving carbon neutrality and supporting the broader energy transition.
