A large-scale wind farm project led by a group of citizens is set to begin operations in Martigné-Ferchaud, located in the Ille-et-Vilaine department. Fifteen years after the initial concept, the first turbines of the Féeole wind farm are expected to go online in May. The total investment amounts to €24 mn, primarily funded through bank loans, with €520,000 contributed directly by citizens. The facility is projected to generate 36 gigawatt-hours (GWh) annually, representing 45% of the local community’s electricity consumption.
A hybrid, multi-stakeholder financing model
The project was initiated by 168 citizens who formed a company following the area’s designation as a “wind development zone”. Their goal was to ensure locally generated value remained within the region. The financial structure was completed with institutional partners such as the departmental energy syndicate Energ’iV and the movement Énergie Partagée, which supports citizen-led renewable energy production initiatives. Two turbines have already been erected, with a third under assembly and a fourth awaiting installation.
A growing national trend
According to Énergie Partagée, there are currently 16 operational citizen wind farms in France, with two under construction and 22 in development. The French Agency for Ecological Transition (Ademe) stated in 2024 that while such projects offer stable revenues, profitability is often not the primary motivation. Proponents cite other benefits including local economic and energy resources, job creation, and skill development across territories.
Persistent administrative barriers
In Andilly-les-Marais, Charente-Maritime, a similar initiative followed the municipality’s rejection of a private developer due to insufficient local involvement. The company Valorem, together with the cooperative Coopec and a regional investment fund, was selected. The park entered into service in 2024 with around 350 citizens as co-investors. However, such initiatives do not enjoy unanimous support. In Riaillé, Loire-Atlantique, two administrative appeals have halted the development of a citizen-led wind farm by Eola, a company representing 800 citizens. Objections included visual impact, cumulative wind farm density, insufficient acoustic studies, and risks to local birdlife.
Local acceptance and procedural delays
In Martigné-Ferchaud, the project was generally well received, though an appeal from a small group of residents delayed the project by four years. As operations near, the initiators anticipate seeing their wind turbines finally come to life, representing a tangible outcome of their long-term local investment.
