The Avignonet-Lauragais installation, which is set in Frances Midi-Pyrenees region, covers an area of 13 hectares and is comprised of 20,320 Q-Cells photovoltaic panels. In addition to supplying the panels, Q-Cells also took over the engineering and construction of the site.
Expected to generate around 5,000 MW hours over five years, the plant will reportedly meet the needs of about 1,750 French households, excluding heating.
Set alongside a 12.5 MW Boralex wind farm, the site has now become Frances first mixed renewable energy project.
Patrick Decostre, general manager of Boralex Europe commented: "The solar park is part of our plan for sustainable development not only in terms of the renewable energy generated locally, but also in the environmental enhancement of the site through the reintroduction of non-crop field plants that have been extirpated from the Lauragais countryside."
Patrick Lemaire, president and CEO of Boralex added: "This first step into solar power will not be our last: our next ones will be made carefully, based on our experience with this first project, in order to create a place for ourselves in this industry in France or elsewhere."
To mark the projects inauguration, a number of dignitaries, including Jean-François Pagès, mayor of Avignonet-Lauragais and the town council, attended a ceremony.
Construction on the photovoltaic project began back in January.
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