French renewable energy developer Neoen has secured seven solar and 'agrisolar' projects totalling 164MWp in the latest round of tenders by the French Energy Regulation Commission.

These wins bolster Neoen's position in the ground-mounted solar plant sector in France, with a cumulative 642MWp awarded in the PPE21 calls for tenders.

The developer's secured capacity in France now exceeds 2.5GW, with the commissioning of the new solar plants scheduled between 2026 and 2029.

The 73MWp Tourneuve project is set for 2032 due to pending network upgrades by the grid operator.

Neoen said that it will collaborate with local and state authorities across various French regions to ensure that the projects align with community acceptance, energy needs, and environmental objectives.

Neoen business development director for France Guillaume Decaen said: “We are extremely proud of this achievement.

“I would like to thank all our local stakeholders for helping us obtain the necessary approvals and the farmers for placing their trust in us.

“2023 was a record year for Neoen in France, with nearly 500MW of solar and wind capacity awarded in the CRE tenders."

The awarded projects include four 'agrivoltaic' sites, demonstrating Neoen's focus on integrating renewable energy generation with agricultural practices.

Neoen CEO Xavier Barbaro said: “I would like to congratulate the Neoen team on this success, which reflects our sustained commitment to developing high-quality projects.

“Thanks to our significant pipeline in solar, wind and storage, we are determined to further strengthen our contribution to the energy transition, in France and around the world.”

In April this year, Neoen started construction on three solar plants in Italy with a total capacity of 24.7MW.