Community-Led Solar Farm Project

Originally founded to support a community-led solar farm project in Aubais (Gard), the association continues to promote renewable energy and energy conservation, as well as active transportation, waste reduction, and environmental protection.

The Association’s Missions

Organic farming, local food systems, sustainable transportation, waste reduction, and energy conservation are among our priorities. 

The association’s missions are organized around four main areas:

• 1. SPREADING THE WORD:  Leveraging technical expertise, “cutting-edge” experience, the local network, and mediation skills to facilitate the emergence of new projects involving rooftop solar clusters or larger-scale solar farms (<250 kWp) 
• 2. INFORM: Create a local information hub for energy conservation to help residents understand the challenges of thermal retrofitting and the resources (grants, financing, contractors) available to them;
• 3. REPAIR: Establish a traveling “Repair Café” throughout the region, with the goal of giving new life to objects. The aim is to combat planned obsolescence, promote more responsible consumption, and share skills (sharing economy);
• 4. RAISE AWARENESS: Organize events focused on environmental conservation and biodiversity, particularly for children, in collaboration with various local stakeholders (the GRAINE network, associations, and recreation centers).

It supports “Living Together” initiatives and local cultural projects.

PROJECT: Overview

In the spring of 2018, the Aubais solar farm was established on the site of the village’s former landfill. Here are some key figures about the farm:

· LOCATION: Zone Artisanale – Moulin à vent (Aubais, Gard) on the site of the former public landfill

• AREA: 1,472 m² of solar panels – 5,000 m² of land used
• TECHNOLOGY: 714 crystalline panels on a fixed structure
• TOTAL CAPACITY: 250 kWp
• ESTIMATED GENERATION: 378,000 kWh/year
• CONSUMPTION: Equivalent to 150 households, excluding heating
• INVESTMENT: 349,378 euros

A community-led and participatory project

This is a renewable energy project led and managed by citizens, local governments, and other local stakeholders.

The goal is to serve the collective interest by ensuring local economic and social benefits, following the example of successful initiatives such as those in the Pays de Mené (Brittany), Combrailles Durables (Puy-de-Dôme), Gaillac, and Biovallée (Drôme).

Funding (€340k) is secured without any bank financing: €220k invested by citizens, a €100k grant from the Occitanie Region, and a €20k investment from our partners Enercoop LR and Luxel.