Bomb discovered on a photovoltaic park site

The construction of a photovoltaic park on the former air base of La Martinerie, in Deols in Indre, was interrupted after the discovery of a bomb dating from the Second World War. The deminers of the civil security were called to neutralize the explosive device before resuming work.

Share:

BayWa r.e. is transforming the former military base of La Martinerie into a photovoltaic park in Deols, near Châteauroux, in the Indre region (36). However, during the preliminary clearance of the site, the deminers found a 220 kg bomb dating from the Second World War. It will be neutralized Thursday morning by the deminers of the civil security. The explosive device, likely to be still operational, was discovered during the pyrotechnical diagnosis carried out by the company Deminetec.

 

A military base transformed into a solar park

BayWa r.e. is commissioning its first 30 MWp photovoltaic park on 35 hectares of the former Martinerie air base near Châteauroux in 2021. In fact, the air base ceased operations in 2012. Preparatory work began in the fall for the construction of a second 40 MWp park on 36 hectares, authorized in October 2021 by the Indre prefecture. It is scheduled to be commissioned in 2024. In all, more than 150,000 photovoltaic panels on more than 70 hectares will supply the Martinerie with the equivalent of the electricity consumption of 80% of the inhabitants of Châteauroux.

 

Photovoltaic technology allows the removal of explosive devices

The military past of the land requires a pyrotechnic cleanup before any work can begin. This step also provides an opportunity to clean up the site. The shells and materials, buried in the ground for several decades, are then put in security for the time of the intervention of the demining services.

During the pyrotechnical diagnosis carried out by the company Deminetec, a 220 kg bomb dating from the Second World War was discovered. The bomb, of American origin, is certainly an unexploded ordnance during a bombing of the military base by the Allies in 1944. The Martinerie air base was then under German occupation. The deminers will give priority to defusing the device. If the operation should prove impossible, it will be necessary to detonate the ammunition preventively. A security perimeter of 400 meters has been set up around the site where the device was discovered. The defusing operation will take place on Thursday morning.

 

A solar park for 22,000 more people

The first solar farm, called Blueberry, has been in operation since February 2021 and supplies the equivalent of 17,000 people with electricity. The second solar farm, Greenberry, will be operational by 2024 and provide electricity for an additional 22,000 people. In total, more than 150,000 photovoltaic panels will occupy more than 70 hectares and provide the equivalent of the electricity consumption of 38,000 people. A partnership with the association Les Amis de la Martinerie is also mentioned, aiming to perpetuate the history of the site by rebuilding American prefabricated barracks.

EDP Renewables North America and California Water Service have entered into a 20-year agreement to supply solar energy to a strategic Bakersfield site, reducing grid energy costs by about $1.7mn over the contract duration.
Solar growth in the European Union is seeing its first annual contraction in ten years, following reduced subsidies and shifting budget priorities in several member states.
Scatec secures the development of a 846 MW photovoltaic cluster in the Free State province, with an investment of ZAR13bn ($735mn), following the seventh round of South Africa's REIPPPP programme.
Enbridge invests $0.9bn in a 600 MW solar facility in Texas, fully dedicated to powering Meta Platforms, Inc.'s data centres through a long-term power purchase agreement.
ENGIE has announced the acquisition of 22 distributed solar projects in Pennsylvania, further strengthening its renewable energy expansion strategy while supporting the local economy and enhancing the reliability of the distribution grid.
Estuary Power commissions the Escape Solar and Storage project in Nevada, integrating 185 megawatts of solar capacity and securing enhanced financing from institutional investors to supply electricity to several major players in the leisure sector.
New anti-dumping tariffs and Foreign Entity of Concern (FEOC) restrictions are disrupting the US solar supply chain, while ongoing dependence on China exposes the industry to significant risks, according to Wood Mackenzie.
Sri Lanka and the International Solar Alliance (ISA) have signed a strategic partnership to accelerate solar energy deployment in the country, aiming for 70% renewable energy by 2030.
Sunrun announced the pricing of its $431 million securitization, involving leases and power purchase agreements. This marks the company’s 14th public securitization and its third of 2025.
Gaia Renewables 1 has acquired a 10% stake in two solar power plants in the Northern Cape, following regulatory approval and financial close, strengthening its portfolio of independent assets.
Dutch firm Gutami Holding has signed a 25-year agreement with Burkina Faso and national utility SONABEL for a 150 MW solar project with 50 MW storage, valued at over €100mn ($109mn).
SOFAZ acquires 49% of a 14-plant solar portfolio held by Enfinity Global in Lazio and Emilia-Romagna, reinforcing its long-term stable investment strategy.
Entech spent €1.4mn to acquire a portfolio of photovoltaic projects under development across southern and central France, marking a first move in its external growth strategy following a recent capital increase.
A guarantee operation orchestrated by the World Bank targets the expansion of distributed energy solutions across nearly twenty African markets, involving a project portfolio led by CrossBoundary Energy and a financial collaboration with Standard Bank South Africa.
Facing chronic power outages, South African households are increasingly turning to solar self-generation, jeopardizing Eskom's pricing model and widening energy-access inequalities between affluent neighborhoods and disadvantaged areas.
Sol Systems has secured a $675mn credit facility to accelerate the development of 500 MW of solar and storage projects in Illinois, Ohio and Texas, backed by an international banking consortium.
The rapid rise of solar energy is disrupting Pakistan’s electricity sector, forcing the government to revise its tariff policy and introduce new taxes on solar panel imports.
Sabanci Renewables announces the acquisition of the Texan solar project Pepper from OCI Energy, strengthening its US portfolio to 660 MW and paving the way for an increase to 3 GW by 2030.
The results of recent Polish auctions reveal a predominance of photovoltaic solar, with 178 projects selected and a total capacity of 1.67 GW, while other segments found no takers.
The National Solar Energy Federation, launched on 21 June and formalised on 14 July, brings together installers, equipment suppliers and financiers to defend photovoltaics against political criticism as Paris prepares a new energy roadmap.