RWE commissions 4 MWp solar park on former landfill site in Charente-Maritime

RWE has inaugurated a 4 megawatt-peak solar park in Charente-Maritime, built on a former municipal landfill site and capable of supplying electricity to approximately 1,500 households.

Share:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

German energy company RWE has officially inaugurated a solar park with an installed capacity of 4 megawatt-peak (MWp) in the commune of Ardillières, located in the Charente-Maritime region. Named the Pierrières solar park, the site spans four municipal plots covering a total area of 3.6 hectares, previously used as a landfill. The installation comprises 7,420 photovoltaic modules and will meet the annual electricity needs, including heating, of around 1,500 households.

A project delivered in under five years

The project began in 2019 with initial discussions with the Ardillières town hall. A building permit was granted in 2023, the same year the project was selected as part of a technology-neutral tender launched by the Commission de régulation de l’énergie (CRE). Construction started at the end of 2024, with the first electrons fed into the grid during the summer of 2025.

RWE stated that the project was executed in close cooperation with local elected officials. Joseph Fonio, President of RWE Renewables France, noted that the project demonstrates “the company’s ability to quickly deploy solar solutions across France.”

Economic impact and municipal land use

In addition to generating electricity, the project provides the municipality with a steady income through an annual lease for land use, on top of standard local tax revenue. Olivier Denéchaud, Mayor of Ardillières, indicated that this income would help fund development projects, including the renovation of public buildings.

The decision to build on unused land enabled optimisation of a previously idle municipal asset, without competing with agricultural or residential use. This helped facilitate local acceptance of the project.

Targeted environmental integration measures

RWE worked with environmental experts to minimise the park’s impact on the surrounding area. The selected plots avoided the region’s typical dry and wet habitats. Hedgerows were planted, wildlife crossings installed, and the height of solar panels was limited to enhance visual integration.

These measures aim to ensure compatibility between energy production and the site’s ecological characteristics, while supporting long-term operational stability.

Mitsubishi Logistics has signed a virtual power purchase agreement with JERA Cross for 8MW of solar power, marking a new step in its energy strategies with investment plans through 2030.
The levelised cost of solar electricity continues to fall globally, reaching a regional record of $37/MWh in the Middle East and Africa thanks to tracker technologies, according to the latest market data.
Island Green Power opens a public consultation on design changes to its 500MW East Pye solar and battery storage project ahead of a permit application expected in early 2026.
US developer Cypress Creek Renewables has closed financing for the Sundance project, combining 75MWac of solar with 200MWh of storage, with commissioning expected by late 2026.
US-based solar developer Ampliform secured a loan facility of up to $165mn to support large-scale energy projects in key regional markets, with a focus on the PJM grid.
More than 75 solar projects in the United States were tax-sheltered in Q2 through GameChange BOS transformers, responding directly to new U.S. Treasury requirements.
Chanel has signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with REDEN to supply nearly one-third of its electricity needs in France from two photovoltaic plants commissioned in 2025.
i Grid Solutions and Tokyu Land will develop an additional 200MW of on-site solar under power purchase agreements by 2029 through their joint venture TLC VPP, with an investment exceeding JPY20bn ($133mn).
US-based developer Janta Power secures funding to expand its vertical photovoltaic towers across data centres, airports, charging stations and critical infrastructure.
The global floating solar panel market could triple by 2030, supported by energy demand and favourable regulations, according to the latest double-digit annual growth forecasts.
SMFL Mirai Partners commits to purchasing fifty low-voltage solar plants from GreenEnergy Plus, targeting 50MW installed capacity by fiscal 2030 to strengthen its supply strategy for private power purchase agreements.
Recurrent Energy, a subsidiary of Canadian Solar, secured $825mn to develop a 150 MWac solar plant and a 600 MWh storage site in Maricopa County, in partnership with Arizona Public Service.
Canadian firm Stardust Solar grants its first African franchise to Megatricity Energy in Zambia, launching a new phase of expansion into emerging solar energy markets.
French energy company elmy finalises a €3.5mn bank loan with Caisse d’Epargne Rhône Alpes to fund 13 new photovoltaic plants with a combined capacity of 3.6 MWp.
Ampyr Solar Europe has connected a 45MWp solar cluster to the grid, made up of three sites spanning 40 hectares in Germany, supplying electricity to 13,000 households.
The independent commission approved development of the Glorit solar project, with a capacity of 147 megawatts (MW), north of Auckland, following a detailed assessment of environmental, land-use, and economic impacts.
i Grid Solutions and CPower have partnered to accelerate the deployment of solar plants through on-site power purchase agreements, targeting 30MW of installed capacity by 2028.
PowerBank has signed a lease for a 1.76 MW ground-mounted solar project in upstate New York, aiming to power around 200 homes through a community-based programme.
AXIAN Energy has acquired a majority stake in the Bangweulu solar plant in Zambia, strengthening its pan-African solar strategy while entering a rapidly growing energy market.
Sun Trinity has commissioned a 3.1 MW solar carport in Nara, bringing its on-site PPA capacity with Aeon Mall to 10.1 MW under a nationwide rollout plan across twelve commercial sites.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.