Overview
Saint-Laurent-d'Aigouze is a 4.87 MW solar PV facility in France, operational and contributing to the country's renewable energy targets under the EU Renewable Energy Directive.
Saint-Laurent-d'Aigouze is a solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant located in the commune of Saint-Laurent-d'Aigouze, in the Occitanie region of southern France. With a capacity of 4.87 MW, it is a small- to medium-scale solar installation, typical of distributed solar projects that support France's energy transition. The facility is operational and feeds renewable electricity into the French grid. France has set ambitious renewable energy goals under the EU Renewable Energy Directive III (2023/2413), targeting 42.5% renewable energy by 2030. Solar PV plays a key role in this strategy, with installations like Saint-Laurent-d'Aigouze benefiting from national feed-in tariffs and grid-connection support mechanisms. The plant's capacity aligns with the typical scale of ground-mounted or rooftop solar projects in the region. The environmental significance of this facility lies in its contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and diversifying France's energy mix. Solar PV has minimal operational emissions and low water usage, though land-use impacts are a consideration. The plant supports local energy independence and helps meet regional renewable portfolio standards.
Environmental context
Solar PV installations like Saint-Laurent-d'Aigouze have a low environmental footprint during operation, with no direct emissions or water consumption. However, land-use change and visual impact are typical concerns for ground-mounted solar farms. In the Mediterranean climate of Occitanie, high solar irradiance makes the region ideal for solar generation, balancing ecological considerations with renewable energy production.
Frequently asked questions
The Saint-Laurent-d'Aigouze solar PV plant is located in the commune of Saint-Laurent-d'Aigouze, in the Occitanie region of southern France.
The facility has a capacity of 4.87 megawatts (MW), making it a small- to medium-scale solar installation.
It is a solar photovoltaic (PV) plant, which converts sunlight directly into electricity using solar panels.
France aims for 42.5% renewable energy by 2030 under the EU Renewable Energy Directive III. Plants like Saint-Laurent-d'Aigouze contribute to this target by generating clean electricity and benefiting from national feed-in tariffs.
Solar PV plants produce no direct emissions during operation, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and have low water usage. They help lower greenhouse gas emissions and support energy independence.