Faux-en-Périgord – Trackers and grain crops; a true agrivoltaic project
Présentation du projet
The Faux-en-Périgord agrivoltaic project combines local renewable energy production and agricultural production tailored to local issues thanks to several innovations. This project enables a coherent and appropriate solution to be provided to global warming and its consequences on farming.
More globally, it is also part of the movement towards the renewal of agricultural assets. Indeed, thanks to the support of the MAIF-Transition Fund, the project has enabled two young farmers, Florian and Martin, to establish their farming activity on around a hundred hectares (250 acres) of field crops.
The agrivoltaic project covers some 34 ha (85 acres) and will combine photovoltaic trackers and organic field crops. It has been designed to provide a response to current agricultural challenges by providing more stable crop-growing conditions, notably thanks to a rainwater collection system on the photovoltaic panels coupled with an irrigation set-up on the plots of land.
Akuo has helped these two young farmers to establish themselves by supporting them during their discussions with the various stakeholders (MAIF-T for the land, local authorities, local community, etc.) and by ensuring the development of the photovoltaic component. For almost 4 years, Akuo has worked hand in hand with them to define an agricultural project that suits their current equipment and has supported the development of a farming project at the heart of the agrivoltaic project.
Alain Legal
“This project received a positive opinion from the local council because it takes into account numerous specificities with regard to:
· the environment, with measures put forward regarding avoidance, reduction and well-thought-out integration into the countryside with the planned planting of major and diverse hedgerows.
· agricultural production, with the involvement of two young organic farmers benefiting from several innovations and technical and financial aids to help them establish themselves.
· local development, in partnership with local players.”
Florian Bonal & Martin Fradet
Florian and Martin are two young farmers whose partnership with the MAIF-Transition Fund has helped them make their project a reality.
“We have been farming more than 120 hectares (300 acres) of land around the village of Faux-en-Périgord near Bergerac since 2021. The agrivoltaic project comprises the installation of trackers will help our crops to better cope with periods of drought. The irrigation that will be put in place will be an additional safeguard for our crops given the current climate.
We are two young farmers driven by innovation, and this project is part of an innovative sustainable development approach.”
A project implemented in consultation with local players
Akuo is intent on developing projects in partnership with local players so they can truly establish themselves in their region. For the Faux-en-Périgord agrivoltaic project, local authorities and associations were fully involved in the development as soon as the land to be used was identified in order to build peripheral components with them that benefit local inhabitants. A conservatory orchard should notably be established in the village as soon as the project gets underway.
Florian studied agriculture, obtained an advanced farming certificate and was trained in methanation project management. He then accumulated several agricultural experiences, working with field crops in Canada and spending two harvest seasons with local farming cooperatives and one season in straw baling. The cooperative farming group not being able to provide further full-time employment, in 2021 he established his activity on 71 ha (175 acres) of land in Faux-en-Périgord thanks to the MAIF-Transition Fund.
On this site, he grows field crops being converted to organic farming in order to complement the food autonomy of the family farming cooperative’s herd (GAEC), better manage crop rotation, produce organic cash crops and fuel a biogas plant.
Following the death of his grandfather in 2019, Martin took over the family farm and began making all of the crops organic. The initial surface area of the farm being too small to optimize his rotation system, Martin approached the MAIF-Transition Fund to cultivate 43 ha (just over 100 acres) of land within the confines of the Faux-en-Périgord project and supplement his annual crops.
Akuo has helped these farmers establish themselves on this land through a complex and innovative financial package while pledging to support them both for many years to come.
