Verso Energy has announced the commissioning of the “Pépite de Beauce” solar plant, an agrivoltaic facility located in Outarville, in the Centre-Val de Loire region. With a capacity of 580 kilowatt-peak (kWc), the plant covers three hectares and combines electricity generation with large-scale crop farming.
The project was developed in partnership with Pierre Coisnon, farmer and co-founder of Les 3 Laboureurs, a potato supplier. The electricity produced will directly power the company’s packaging facility, with a self-consumption system covering 90% of the site’s energy needs.
Study of microclimatic and agronomic effects
The “Pépite de Beauce” facility also has an experimental purpose, aimed at studying the coexistence of photovoltaic panels and large-scale crops. Several configurations were installed to assess the impact of the microclimate created by the panels on crop growth, biomass, maturity, and water consumption.
A control zone without photovoltaic equipment was included to enable direct comparison. The collected data will help document the influence of the structures on agricultural yields and optimise irrigation practices, particularly in the region’s climatic conditions.
A technical demonstrator with national visibility
The project was designed with the support of consulting firm Agrosolutions, specialised in agriculture and agrivoltaics, and benefits from Agrisoleo’s expertise in algorithmic panel control. The metal structures were supplied by Axial Structural Solutions, a recognised player in the photovoltaic support sector.
This facility will be showcased at the Innov’Agri 2025 trade fair, a major professional event in the agricultural sector. Located between Paris and Orléans, the plant has been designed as a permanent demonstrator to raise awareness among agricultural professionals about integrating photovoltaic systems into intensive farming practices.
Antoine Huard, Chief Executive Officer of Verso Energy, noted that this project represented “one of the first large-scale demonstrators in France and the first pilot in the Centre-Val de Loire region.” He added that the scientific data collected would be used to improve future projects.
Pierre Coisnon, manager of Les 3 Laboureurs, said the plant addressed “a need for protection against fluctuations in electricity prices” while matching his “interest in testing new technologies.”
