Dual use of land for solar energy and agriculture sparks debate in Seine-Maritime скачать в хорошем качестве

Dual use of land for solar energy and agriculture sparks debate in Seine-Maritime

A solar power plant on a sheep farm is planned at Héronchelles, south of Buchy in the Seine-Maritime region. The agrivoltaics project has been criticized by Hervé Morin, President of the Normandy region, and applauded by some local residents. Large explanatory signs are displayed on chairs, while intrigued locals discuss the project of their neighbor, Emmanuelle Lemaître. This farmer wants to reconcile sheep farming with the installation of a solar power plant on 5.3 hectares of her farm in Héronchelles, south of Bernay, in the Seine-Maritime region. On Wednesday March 7, an information session was held for local residents. The aim was to raise awareness of agrivoltaics against a backdrop of divisive debate. The region's president, Hervé Morin, is opposed to the idea. He fears that farmers will abandon their crops in favor of this financial source. For Emmanuelle Lemaître, it's just the opposite. The farmer, who has teamed up with H2air, will be able to graze her ewes under the photovoltaic panels. She will earn 18,000 euros a year thanks to the installation of these solar panels, which she will reinvest in the purchase of equipment and the renovation of her farm, leaving a functional and comfortable operation to her son, also a shepherd. The energy produced by the solar panels will be fed into the public electricity grid, benefiting over 1,000 households, or 2,700 people. The project is due to come on stream in 2026, but the study phase has just been completed. Shotlist VS Fields planned for the installation of solar panels SOUNDBITE (French) Emmanuelle Lemaître, sheep farmer: "This will allow me to use the plot and give it meaning for my animals. It will also protect the animals by providing shade and comfort." VS Fields with solar panels VS Aurélien Petit showing plans to Emmanuelle Lemaître SOUNDBITE (French) Aurélien Petit, Project manager - h2air : "Our main activity remains farming, and we provide a service to the breeder. And that service is shade, a fenced-in area and the possibility of working as before. And electricity production remains a secondary activity." WS Fields planned for the installation of solar panels WS Neighbor SOUNDBITE (French) Local resident 1: "They say we need to find new energy, but if we do nothing, we won't find any." SOUNDBITE (French) Local resident 2: "We come to the countryside to be at peace, to see nature, to have a beautiful landscape, not to spoil it with solar panels, which is a shame." VS Journalist with an environment association member SOUNDBITE (French) Raoul Leturcq, 'France Nature Environnement' Normandy : "For us, this project is a reasonable size. On the other hand, this type of saving will generate added value for the farmer, but it will also increase the price of agricultural land, and thus exacerbate competition. And that denatures the profession as such." WS Mayor SOUNDBITE (French) Jean-Luc Poyen, Mayor of Héronchelles : "I've been in contact with people asking me if it had been validated, to see if they too could launch projects. We don't want our commune, which is very green and peaceful, to be turned into a field of solar panels." VS Sheep