The industrial company CARBON has just announced the conclusion of the preliminary consultation phase for the siting of its photovoltaic panel and cell gigafactory at Fos-sur-Mer, located on the Grand Port Maritime de Marseille in the SOUTH of France. The consultation process began on September 11, 2023.
A Thematic Approach to Major Challenges
CARBON’s plan included six public meetings, four of which were themed around crucial issues such as the environment, safety, employment and integration into the local community. These meetings provided an opportunity for in-depth discussion of the project’s key concerns.
Active Citizen Participation through a Dedicated Web Platform
In addition, the CARBON team organized three mobile debates and set up a dedicated web platform, giving citizens the opportunity to find out more, ask questions and share their opinions on the project. This interactive approach enabled significant citizen participation in the consultation process.
Concertation objectives and results
The aim of this first phase of consultation, supervised by the Commission Nationale du Débat Public (CNDP), was to discuss the project’s desirability, objectives and main characteristics. It was a success, mobilizing over 600 people at the public meetings, meeting over 100 people at the mobile debates, and gathering over 74 contributions and more than 6,500 visits to the dedicated web platform.
Towards an Independent Balance Sheet and Future Measurements
It is now up to the guarantors of this consultation to draw up an independent report, which will be made public by November 30. Subsequently, CARBON and RTE will specify the lessons learned from this phase and the measures they wish to implement to take account of them. The industrial company remains committed to transparency and ongoing collaboration with all stakeholders.
Ongoing consultation in preparation for the Public Enquiry
CARBON is now entering a phase of ongoing consultation, still under the aegis of the CNDP, in preparation for the public inquiry scheduled for 2024. Public meetings are planned to present CARBON’s response to the guarantors’ report, as well as the initial results of the impact and hazard studies. The company intends to actively involve all stakeholders, with the possibility of setting up a monitoring committee if the project is approved.
About RTE and CARBON: Two Committed Players
As for RTE, France’s electricity transmission system operator, it plays a crucial role in ensuring the country’s power supply. RTE manages electricity flows in real time, maintains and develops the high and extra-high voltage network, and provides connections to the public power transmission network.
As for CARBON, this French initiative with a European dimension aims to contribute to the sustainable reindustrialization of France and Europe by developing a major industrial solution for the solar industry. CARBON plans to build a 5 GWp gigafactory, integrating the entire photovoltaic industrial value chain, on a 62-hectare site in Fos-sur-Mer. The project promises greater economic sovereignty, energy independence, the creation of 3,000 direct industrial jobs, and a significant reduction in CO2 emissions.
The preliminary consultation phase for the CARBON photovoltaic panel and cell gigafactory at Fos-sur-Mer has been successfully completed, marking an important milestone in the development of this major industrial project. CARBON and RTE will continue to work with the CNDP and stakeholders to advance this project, which promises to contribute to the energy transition of the region and Europe.
