French independent power producer Neoen has won solar tenders totalling 238.5MW under the French Government’s latest tender calls.

Neoen secured the projects under two categories. In the category of “canopies and buildings”, the company secured two projects with a total capacity of 16.9MW in August 2023.

In the “large-scale ground-mounted” category, it won 15 projects with a total capacity of 221.6MW in September 2023.

Neoen’s French portfolio is now more than 2GW.

Neoen chairman and CEO Xavier Barbaro stated: “We are proud of Neoen’s latest and significant contribution to our country’s energy transition. In France, over the last 15 years, Neoen has demonstrated its ability to grow strongly, rapidly and in a diversified manner.

“This growth is set to accelerate further, fuelled by the quality of our project portfolio. Now more than ever, France is one of Neoen’s global pillars and Neoen is a key player in France.”

In the ground-mounted category, the company’s secured projects ranging between 3.3MW and 42.2MW.

They will be installed in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Centre Val-de Loire, Grand Est, Hauts-de-France, Ile-de-France, Normandie, Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occitanie regions.

The company aims to begin construction on these projects in 2024 and 2025.

Of the 15 solar projects, 12 involve the redevelopment of disused industrial sites. These 12 include the 13MW Lambrun project in Loire-Atlantique and the 15.9MW Lézignan project in Hérault, both to be built on ancient quarries.

Two others will be located on landfill sites and a 42.2MW solar plant will be located on a former Air Force base.

More than 25% of the tenders will be agrisolar projects, including the 30MW Ferme de Bord in Haute-Vienne and the 30MW Fère-Champenoise in Marne.

Projects under the canopy and buildings category will mostly be installed in car parks.