France, Annet-sur-Marne, November 14, 2019 – Akuo, a French independent producer of renewable and distributed energy, and ECT, a company specializing in the recycling of inert materials from construction sites, today launched the construction of the “Gabots” solar power plant in Annet-sur-Marne, which will stand out in the Paris region for its size and production capacity.
One of the largest solar farms in the Paris region
With a capacity of 17 MWp, Les Gabots is set to become one of the largest solar power plants in the Paris region. Covering an area of 18.5 hectares, the plant will comprise 44,000 photovoltaic modules and will avoid the emission of 847 tonnes of CO2 per year.
Covering the needs of 3,700 households, or almost 10,000 inhabitants, the “Les Gabots” power plant will make Annet-sur-Marne (population 3,300) a positive-energy town.
Giving a second life to brownfield sites
The Annet-sur-Marne photovoltaic power plant is the result of a partnership between Akuo and ECT. The solar panels are installed on inert landfill, giving them a new purpose and a second life. Through their joint subsidiary ACT-E, Akuo and ECT plan to replicate the “Les Gabots” project elsewhere in the Paris region. The aim is to significantly increase photovoltaic energy production,
achieving 100 MWp production at sites operated by ACT-E.
A wide range of players involved in financing the project
Crédit Coopératif financed the project’s debt to the tune of €8.5 million, i.e. 75% of the total investment cost. In addition, Akuo and ECT have decided to open up “Les Gabots” capital to participative investment. The regional funds SEM SIPEnR, SDESM ENERGIES, IDF Energies, the town of Annet-sur-Marne and the Communauté de Communes Plaines et Monts de France contributed around 50% of the project’s equity financing requirements. These players are delighted to see a project of this scale come to fruition in Seine-et-Marne, as part of the ambitious development of solar energy promoted by the Île-de-France region.
Launch of a crowdfunding campaign open to all citizens
In addition to the participatory investment supported by local authorities, Akuo and ECT have decided to give all citizens the opportunity to benefit from the profitability of the “Les Gabots” solar power plant by offering them the chance to participate in refinancing the project through participatory lending on its AkuoCoop digital platform. This scheme is designed to encourage citizen financing of the energy transition, by relying on the local authorities who are the key players. Since its creation, the platform has raised over 5.2 million euros in just 2 years to finance 11 green energy production plants.
We supported this beautiful project
solar park from the outset. My municipality, which is already suffering the disastrous effects of the
climate change - flooding, drought, heatwave - commits to the transition
energy through this photovoltaic plant, not by wishful thinking, but by action
concrete
This first project, born of our partnership
with ECT, is a source of pride for the AKUO Group, as it is our first power plant in the world.
in Île-de-France and one of the largest in the region. This is how we fit in
fully in line with the mobilization plan for the ecological transformation of the Île-de-France region initiated by the Region's President, Valérie Pécresse. Beyond that, this project was able to see the light of day
day thanks to the conviction of the Mayor of Annet-sur-Marne, Christian Marchandeau. This project
also illustrates the participatory dimension that is at the heart of all our projects, both in terms of
investment than financing. To this end, we are giving Parisians the opportunity to
participate fully in the energy transition in their region and give meaning to their work.
savings via our AkuoCoop platform. Finally, we are convinced that the development
photovoltaics will experience significant growth in the Paris region over the next few years.
years, particularly on abandoned or artificial land or surfaces.
Today's installation of the plant's 1st panel
Annet-sur-Marne is a concrete example of ECT's determination to offer local authorities a
ENR offer, in addition to our capacity to build leisure, sports and renaturation facilities.
woodland or farmland. The development of photovoltaic energy projects is embodied in a
partnership with Akuo, a natural partner with whom we share the same values
innovation and local involvement. This first 17MWp solar power plant
contributes to our shared ambition of generating 100MW for the Île-de-France region
The "des
Gabots" is exemplary of the ambition that the Île-de-France Region wishes to bring to the transition
energy and environment. The Region is committed to investing 10 billion euros in the
ecological transformation by 2024. The start of construction of this solar power plant,
for which we are gathered here today, testifies to the concrete expression of the Region's efforts
to make the Paris Region a solar energy production region
After producing more than a hundred
solar roofs on public buildings in the Île-de-France region, SIPPEREC (Syndicat intercommunal de
the outskirts of Paris for energy and communication networks) has created SEM SIPEnR to
pursue and expand the development of renewable energies. By investing in this project
solar power in Seine-et-Marne, SEM SIPEnR wanted to contribute to the redevelopment of a former
to produce clean, renewable electricity and thus enable the
territory to commit to the energy transition
As a stakeholder in the Seine-et-Marn region, is delighted that a project of this scale
in the department. Strongly committed to the communes of 77
to support the energy transition, SDESM ENERGIES backs photovoltaic project
in Annet-sur-Marne.
The region has announced its great ambition for the
development of solar energy. Ile-de-France Energies will play a central role as operator for
achieve these goals, and is proving it today by investing in the project alongside Akuo and
several public partners.
About Akuo, Entrepreneurs by nature
Akuo is a French independent producer of renewable and distributed energy. Akuo is present throughout
the value chain: development, financing, construction and operation. At the end of 2018, Akuo had invested 2.2 billion euros for a total capacity to date of over 1 GW of assets in operation and under construction and over 3 GW of projects under development. With over 350 employees, the Paris-based Group is present in more than 15 countries worldwide. Akuo is aiming for a global production capacity of 3,500 MW by 2022.
For more information, visit http://www.akuoenergy.com/fr.
PRESS CONTACT ECT – HOPSCOTCH
Olivier VENDRAME – 01 47 66 09 90
vendrame@akuoenergy.com
About ECT
ECT’s growth is part of a circular economy strategy: reusing inert soil from building sites in the Greater Paris region for
engage with local communities in concerted, sustainable development projects. To structure this dynamic, ECT has developed various areas of expertise: an “Excavated Soil Management” division to meet the environmental engineering and traceability needs of the public works sector and the Grand Paris Express, and a “Development Design and Implementation” division to offer local authorities useful projects based on the reclamation of excavated soil. A division in charge of site operation and development rounds out the company’s range of core businesses.
Key figures : Founded in 1997 | 190 employees | Some 15 sites in France
15 million tonnes of excavated material processed annually | 20,000 trees planted annually.
For more information, visit https://www.groupe-ect.com/.
PRESS CONTACT ECT – HOPSCOTCH
Ariane Gateau – 01 58 65 10 72 agateau@hopscotch.fr
Sarah El Adak – 01 41 34 22 88 seladak@hopscotch.fr
