The Aix-Marseille-Provence metropolitan area has officially inaugurated a new photovoltaic park located in Mallemort, built on a former industrial site. Jointly developed by independent producer Cap Vert Énergie (CVE) and Énergie Partagée, the installation has a generation capacity of 2.6 megawatts-peak (MWp). The park’s expected annual production reaches 4,150 megawatt-hours (MWh), enough electricity to cover the annual electric consumption needs of 3,600 people, excluding heating and domestic hot water. The project has benefited from an initial participatory funding of 135,000 euros provided by citizen shareholders mobilised by Énergie Partagée.
Conversion of a former landfill site
The Aix-Marseille-Provence metropolitan area, owner of the industrial site, issued a Call for Expressions of Interest (AMI) in 2018 to convert this unused location into a community solar park. The project is part of a broader strategy adopted by the metropolitan area aiming to increase the share of renewable energy sources within its local energy mix. CVE, a Marseille-based company, was responsible for the technical and financial development of the park, its construction, and will oversee its operations for the next 30 years. Starting from 2025, the citizens of Mallemort and local authorities will be able to participate financially in the project through the local cooperative “Sur le Toit des Alpilles”, which plans to hold up to 35% of the total equity.
Local engagement and participatory approach
Throughout the solar project’s development phase in Mallemort, CVE and Énergie Partagée organised local consultations, educational workshops, and regular exchanges with inhabitants. An educational programme was specifically developed in collaboration with the Centre Permanent d’Initiatives pour l’Environnement (CPIE) and the Mistral primary school in Mallemort. Pupils contributed to creating informational panels installed at the site, covering topics such as solar energy, local biodiversity, and waste management.
The project’s funding structure also includes a territorial component: an annual sum of 6,000 euros is designated to finance local initiatives linked particularly to energy efficiency and environmental awareness. Sylvain Gombert, investment manager at Énergie Partagée, highlighted this participatory aspect: “The involvement of local citizens is tangible and will also manifest financially through the citizen cooperative from 2025.”
A potentially replicable project model
Located in a region particularly suitable for solar development, the photovoltaic park at Mallemort could serve as an example for other French municipalities. The model of this project rests on three main pillars: converting unused land, producing electricity consumed locally, and governance involving local inhabitants directly. Similar projects could be considered for other unused sites within the Aix-Marseille-Provence metropolitan area.
Sylvain Legrand, CEO of CVE Solar, stated: “Our model is designed to be replicated elsewhere, as it allows for efficient utilisation of local resources while directly involving residents in the benefits generated by the installation.”
