Jean-François Cortot, a farmer in Burgundy, has launched an innovative experiment by sowing his wheat under an agrivoltaic canopy installed by TSE. This pilot project, located on a three-hectare plot of its organic farm, is closely monitored by the Dijon Céréales-Alliance BFC cooperative. Significant differences with an uncovered control plot have already been observed, fuelling discussions during the inauguration of the installation on 23 April.
An agrivoltaics project on a plot with low agronomic potential
An organic cereal farmer in Côte-d'Or, Jean-François Cortot has integrated an agrivoltaic canopy on part of his land. “I have been a solar energy producer since 2009, underlines the operator. Our photovoltaic installation was one of the very first in Burgundy. The objective of this new project is to associate an energy production system with agricultural activity and to measure the effects of panels on an agronomically weak plot.”
TSE, a partner in the project, facilitated its implementation thanks to close collaboration with the operator. “A relationship of trust was established very quickly, confirms the operator. All the procedures were very smooth. Hats off to them.”, underlines Jean-François Cortot.
Promising results with better vegetation management
“We have different types of structures, but in this case, it was the agricultural canopy that was selected,” underlines Yann Maneyrol, Director of the TSE agency in Dijon. The bays are very wide, 27 meters, and the panels are positioned 5 meters high. Even a combine harvester works.”
Thanks to this configuration, the farmer did not have to adapt his equipment or agricultural practices.
The plot was selected for its low agronomic potential in order to test the impact of solar panels. From the first observations, the results are visible: there is no white frost under the panels, and a positive vegetative difference compared to the control plot is observed. Pierre Detain, Renewable Energy Development Manager for Dijon Céréales-Alliance BFC, dedicated to monitoring the experiment, affirms: “Agronomic monitoring will make it possible to study the benefits on yields and the reduction of stresses, on a plot that is very representative of the region.”
A strategic project in the face of the challenges of climate change
Agrivoltaics represents a real opportunity for agricultural cooperatives who want to assess the benefits of these installations in response to the challenges of climate change. The objective is to study how this type of device can help strengthen the resilience of agricultural systems in the face of increasingly extreme climate conditions.
Agrivoltaic projects that are attracting growing interest among farmers
In order to allow TSE to exploit the agricultural canopy, owned by the company, an emphyteutic tripartite lease between the operator, the owner and the energy company is concluded.
This 40-year contract allows the farmer to freely exploit his plot while receiving rent. “This additional income brings stability to farms, without changing anything in the rural lease,” analyses Pierre Detain.
TSE takes care of the entire project: from the study phase to the construction, including the maintenance and dismantling of the installations.
Agrivoltaics is becoming increasingly popular among the members of Dijon Céréales-Alliance BFC. “We are already frequently asked by many farmers, and quite proud to participate at our level in the energy transition in the region”, welcomes Pierre Detain.
Watch our video report on this agricultural canopy installed at Verdonnet.
