Engie opens 12 MWp solar power plant in France

French utility Engie (EPA:GSZ), formerly GDF Suez, on Friday inaugurated the 12 MWp Roc du Doun solar power plant.

Located in the municipality of Gros-Chastang, Correze department, the photovoltaic facility is the first solar power plant in the Limousin region. Its 37,000 photovoltaic panels mounted on sun trackers are expected to annually produce close to 16,8 million KWh, the equivalent of the annual electricity consumption of 7,000 persons.

French President F.Hollande inaugurated RocDuDoun solar power plant in the Corrèze department in presence of I.Kocher pic.twitter.com/LXliScfAnZ

— ENGIE (@ENGIEgroup) September 18, 2015

Through its subsidiary La Compagnie du Vent, Engie has invested EUR 21.5 million (USD 24.3m) for the development of the project, which was designed in partnership with national and local companies. Trackers were designed by the Bordeaux-based company Exosun and the photovoltaic panels were built by the Toulouse-based SunPower company, Engie said in a statement.

The Roc du Doun plant, is integrated into an overall project that includes an agro-environmental management element, mainly to restore a 75-acre soggy area; an eco-tourism aspect sponsored by the town of Gros-Chastang; and - an agricultural development aspect, with sheep grazing on plant grounds.

(EUR 1 = USD 1.130)

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