TSE, a solar energy producer, and Alliance BFC, a union of agricultural cooperatives in Southern Burgundy, Dijon Céréales and Terre Comtoise, have signed an innovative partnership to develop agrivoltaic projects of 3 to 10 MW in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region. The objective will also be to participate in the tests carried out on the two TSE pilot sites in the department of Haute-Saône (under construction) and Côte d'Or (under development).
To deal with increasingly strong climate events, TSE has developed a system ofagrivoltaic shade equipped with rotating solar panels installed on 5m high cables above agricultural land. Thanks to the shade's very small footprint (with 27m between two posts, the footprint of the posts and stays is 0.5%), the solution is thus compatible with most agricultural machines and farming practices.
With 10 pilot sites of 6 ha each under development, TSE has set up the largest demonstrator agrivoltaics in France spread throughout the country.
Agrivoltaic shades at the service of members of the BFC Alliance
TSE is joining forces with the BFC Alliance to develop agrivoltaic projects of 3 to 10 MW. They will be distributed in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region among farms of various types (field crops, livestock or others) members of the Alliance cooperatives.
Tests will also be conducted for 9 years jointly by the R&D teams of TSE and the BFC Alliance, on two pilot sites in large-scale agriculture, one in Haute-Saône and the other in Côte d'Or around organic production. The Purpan Agricultural Engineering School will also participate in the scientific program at all TSE pilot sites.
“With the BFC Alliance, we share a common vision of tomorrow's agriculture, with an essential dimension of innovation, and we want to meet the challenges of the energy and agricultural transition together”, specifies Mathieu Debonnet, President of TSE.
Located in the heart of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, the BFC Alliance is based on the complementarity and diversity of the cooperatives, productions and territories that it brings together. The union works daily with its 12,000 members to prepare for the future of regional agriculture.
“Agrivoltaics, as well as plant methanization in the context of collective projects, are part of the panel of solutions we are developing to diversify and perpetuate farms, by securing the income of our farmers while contributing to the energy transition”, adds Christophe Richardot, Director of the BFC Alliance.
About the BFC ALLIANCE
The Alliance BFC union brings together the 3 main agricultural and agri-food cooperatives in Bourgogne Franche-Comté: Bourgogne du Sud, Dijon Céréales and Terre Comtoise. It brings together some 12,000 member farmers and 1,600 employees, for a turnover of around €900 million.
The complementary and varied activities of cooperatives range from grain trades (collection and supply) to processing (milling, extrusion of oilseeds and protein crops, animal nutrition), including vegetable production but also distribution to professionals (green spaces, vines, agricultural machinery) or the general public (Gamm Vert garden centers, bakery networks) but also distribution to professionals (green spaces, vineyards, agricultural machinery) or the general public (Gamm Vert garden centers, bakery networks) and of course logistics.
Resolutely focused on the future, very active in agricultural research & development, the BFC Alliance deploys its resources to adapt regional agriculture to major challenges such as climate change, with the development of green energy (methanization, agrivoltaics). The Alliance is positioned to meet the societal demand for local and quality food in a protected environment: CSR approach, new “Nous Autrement” brand launched in January 2022.
