Overview
Les Salles-du-Gardon is a 1 MW solar PV facility located in France. The plant is operational and contributes to the country's renewable energy capacity.
Les Salles-du-Gardon is a solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant located in France. With a capacity of 1.00215 MW, it is a small-scale solar installation that feeds renewable electricity into the French grid. The facility is operational and plays a role in diversifying the local energy mix. France has set ambitious renewable energy targets under the EU Renewable Energy Directive III, aiming for 42.5% renewable energy by 2030. Small-scale solar PV plants like Les Salles-du-Gardon are part of this transition, supported by national feed-in tariffs and grid-connection regimes that encourage distributed generation. The plant's environmental significance lies in its contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by displacing fossil-fuel-based electricity. Solar PV has minimal operational emissions, though land-use and visual impacts are considerations for ground-mounted installations. The facility supports France's goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.
Environmental context
Solar PV installations like Les Salles-du-Gardon have a low environmental footprint during operation, with no air or water emissions. However, land use for solar arrays can affect local ecosystems and visual landscapes. In France, solar projects are subject to environmental impact assessments to mitigate such effects. The plant's small scale minimizes land-use conflicts, and its location in a temperate region ensures moderate solar irradiance for generation.
Frequently asked questions
Les Salles-du-Gardon solar PV plant is located in France, with coordinates 44.1944 N, 4.0178 E.
The plant has a capacity of 1.00215 MW, making it a small-scale solar photovoltaic installation.
The facility uses solar photovoltaic (PV) technology to convert sunlight directly into electricity.
Under the EU Renewable Energy Directive III, France aims for 42.5% renewable energy by 2030. Small-scale solar plants like Les Salles-du-Gardon help meet this target by generating clean electricity and benefiting from feed-in tariffs.
Solar PV plants produce electricity with zero operational emissions, reducing reliance on fossil fuels. They also have low water usage and can be installed on degraded land to minimize ecological impact.