Overview
Sainte-Hélène is a 12 MW solar PV facility located in France. It contributes to the country's renewable energy capacity under the EU Renewable Energy Directive.
Sainte-Hélène is a solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant located in France, with a capacity of 12 megawatts (MW). This places it in the small-to-medium scale range for solar installations in the country. The facility is operational and adds to France's growing portfolio of renewable energy sources. The plant operates under France's national regulatory framework, which aligns with the EU Renewable Energy Directive III (2023/2413), targeting 42.5% renewable energy by 2030. France supports solar PV through feed-in tariffs and grid connection policies, encouraging distributed generation. The 12 MW capacity is typical for ground-mounted solar farms in the region. Environmentally, the Sainte-Hélène solar farm helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by displacing fossil fuel-based electricity. Solar PV has minimal water usage and low operational emissions. The facility's location in southwestern France benefits from favorable solar irradiation, supporting efficient energy generation without significant land-use conflicts.
Environmental context
The Sainte-Hélène solar PV plant is situated in southwestern France, an area with moderate solar irradiation. Solar farms in this region typically have low visual impact due to flat terrain and are often sited on agricultural or marginal land. The facility avoids significant ecological disruption by not involving water consumption or air emissions, though land use for solar arrays can affect local habitats. Grid integration is managed through France's robust transmission network.
Frequently asked questions
The Sainte-Hélène solar PV plant is located in France, with coordinates approximately 44.91° N, -0.915° W, in the southwestern part of the country.
The Sainte-Hélène solar plant has a capacity of 12 megawatts (MW), making it a small-to-medium scale solar installation.
Sainte-Hélène is a solar photovoltaic (PV) plant, which converts sunlight directly into electricity using semiconductor panels.
France aims to reach 42.5% renewable energy by 2030 under the EU Renewable Energy Directive. Sainte-Hélène contributes to this goal by adding 12 MW of solar capacity.
Solar PV plants like Sainte-Hélène produce electricity with zero emissions during operation, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.