French solar infrastructure developer Melvan opened a citizen fundraising campaign on October 10 to finance two photovoltaic canopy projects located in the Vaucluse department. The operation, conducted in partnership with the platform Lendopolis, allows residents of Greater Avignon to subscribe to simple bonds. From October 15, the offer will be extended to residents of Vaucluse and neighbouring departments until December 8.
Two projects from a regional portfolio
The targeted projects are part of a portfolio of three solar plants totalling 3.9 megawatts-peak (MWp), two of which were selected under the sixth round of the Multiannual Energy Programme (Programmation Pluriannuelle de l’Énergie, PPE 2) for building-mounted solar plants. The crowdfunding initiative is intended to strengthen an overall investment plan of EUR5.5mn ($5.82mn), composed of equity contributions from Melvan and bank financing.
The first project, located in the municipality of Avignon, is already under construction. With a capacity of 1.6 MWp, it covers the park-and-ride lot of the Agroparc business area, in partnership with the Greater Avignon authority. The electricity generated is ultimately intended to feed a local self-consumption loop for companies in the area, with a fixed supply rate.
Territorial integration and local mobilisation
The second project, with a capacity of 0.5 MWp, will be built in Sault, near the town’s stadium. In cooperation with the Sault municipality, the photovoltaic canopy will also provide climate protection for users of the sports site. Construction is expected to start in the coming weeks.
The initiative reflects a strategy to territorialise renewable energy financing without relying exclusively on large institutional investors. “By reserving this financing for local residents, we are fulfilling our core mission,” said Pierre-Yves Barbier, co-founder of Melvan.
