With a capacity of 4.6 MWp, this photovoltaic park, which will upgrade a derelict site, was inaugurated today by renewable energy producer Urbasolar, the Communauté Urbaine de Reims and the commune of St-Brice-Courcelles.
The Saint-Brice-Courcelles solar power plant was inaugurated in the presence of Evelyne Quentin, Mayor of St-Brice-Courcelles, Raphaël Blanchard, elected representative of the President of the Marne département, Jean Marc Roze, Arnaud Robinet, President of the Communauté Urbaine de Reims, Anne-Sophie Romagny, Senator for the Marne, Julien Picart, Urbasolar’s Director of Solar Power Plant Development, and numerous elected representatives and Urbasolar members.
Turning a derelict site into a source of green energy production.
The land located in the Malle business park in the commune of St-Brice-Courcelles was left as a wasteland, following a pollution diagnosis which led to its categorization as a site with the least land at stake in 2022.
In 2021, the Communauté Urbaine de Reims has decided to turn this land into a source of green electricity production, thereby contributing to the region’s energy transition. Local players decided to work with Urbasolar, an expert in photovoltaic solar energy, on this project. The company’s long-standing expertise in contaminated land, its presence across the entire value chain and its commitment to the environment make it a trusted partner in many respects.
The solar park is divided into two lots separated vertically by a wooded area. The 4.6 MWp plant will start generating its first kilowatt-hours in a few weeks’ time. It will produce 5,320 MWh of green electricity per year, equivalent to the electricity consumption of around 2,470 people. This project is also a lever for the commune, the community and the département, thanks to economic spin-offs that will help finance numerous local development projects and create value in the area..
Protecting biodiversity
The production of electricity from renewable sources is not the only opportunity offered by the construction of a solar power plant. The Urbasolar Group is attentive to biodiversity issues at every site it builds, and the St-Brice-Courcelles plant is no exception.
As a result, the site’s natural environment has been ecologically maintained, with the preservation of bird-friendly areas in the center of the site. In terms of landscape integration, a merlon planted with hedges has also been installed, this structure consisting of an earth embankment serves as a view breaker. Finally, a walkway to the south will allow passers-by to discover the photovoltaic power plant.
The inauguration of this project testifies to the strong commitment of local players to participate in national, regional and local policies for the production of electricity from renewable sources. The plant also adds to the portfolios of the Urbasolar group, which already has a strong presence in the Grand Est region, further strengthening its local roots.