Solar landscape for Renault Trucks

Commercial Motor
December 14, 2023

 

In partnership with TotalEngergies, Renault Trucks is planning to install 17 hectares of solar canopies at its Bourg-en-Bresse site.

The project is expected to result in the largest solar canopy site in France, covering the likes of car parks and yard space with elevated solar panels. At its peak, the installation is planned to deliver 22MW of energy, which is roughly equivalent to the electricity usage of 17,500 people. In the local area this equates to 43% of the population of Bourg-en-Bresse.

It’s anticipated that around a third of the electricity used on site will be supplied by the solar panels. As the canopies will cover outdoor spaces, they also have an additional benefit of protecting and shading parked vehicles or workspaces exposed to the elements. This ambitious project contributes to Renault Trucks and TotalEngergies’ decarbonisation plans. 

Marin de Montbel, managing director of TotalEnergies Renouvelables France, said: "We're extremely proud to be supporting Renault Trucks in its energy transition. Through this project, we're demonstrating our ability to develop technically complex projects that create value.” 

Solar canopies for the industrial site are due to be commissioned in 2026 but it’s unclear at this stage when the site is expected to be able to start using this source of renewable energy. The site, which was opened in 1964, employs around 1350 people and covers a total area of 127 hectares. 

Vice president of strategy and sustainability at Renault Trucks, Karine Forien, said: "At Renault Trucks, we're strongly committed to decarbonising our industry and preserving our resources. We’re backing up our commitments with tangible actions, including the electrification of our vehicle ranges, which immediately eliminates CO2 emissions in use, and the decarbonisation of our own operations. The energy transition is at the core of our strategy and this solar canopy project is a prime example.”

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