Groupe VALOREM, through its subsidiary VALOREM Toiture & Ombrière, has finalised a €22mn financing operation with Arkéa Banque Entreprises et Institutionnels. This funding forms part of a broader €27mn investment plan aimed at delivering three clusters of rooftop photovoltaic projects, totalling 63 solar power plants. The contracts were structured between December 2023 and February 2025.
The plants, with individual capacities ranging from 200 kilowatt-peak (kWp) to 500 kWp, will have a combined capacity of 20 megawatt-peak (MWp). They are expected to generate 22.5 megawatt-hours (MWh) annually, equivalent to the electricity consumption of 5,484 households. These projects are located in Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occitanie, regions where VALOREM is already active in renewable energy infrastructure at the local level.
Financial structuring and operational partners
The senior debt was granted by Arkéa Banque Entreprises et Institutionnels as part of a structured mandate led by its Environmental Transition Department. The operation involved several specialised advisers, including Energie Legal for legal auditing and Greensolver for technical due diligence.
VALOREM Toiture & Ombrière, a subsidiary focused on photovoltaic installations under 1 MWp, is responsible for the engineering and development of these plants. The economic model relies on secured electricity purchase tariffs, ensuring predictable revenue streams for the financed assets.
Regulatory stability and sectoral uncertainty
Despite the success of this financing, the regulatory environment remains uncertain for future rooftop solar projects. Recent changes to support mechanisms have raised concerns within the industry, particularly for medium-sized projects targeting agricultural or urban settings.
Groupe VALOREM, actively engaged in discussions with public authorities and fellow developers, is closely monitoring developments regarding the new simplified tender procedure. Amendments introduced through recent decrees may affect the profitability of certain projects and challenge their financing, despite efforts to moderate the measures.
Strategic positioning across the territory
The deal with Arkéa fits into a regional development strategy for decentralised solar power production. The partnership enabled the securing of three project cycles over more than a year, underlining the strength of banking relations in financing local infrastructure.
As regulatory adjustments continue to generate uncertainty in the French solar market, project developers such as VALOREM are working to preserve a stable investment framework, crucial for the long-term growth of the photovoltaic sector.
