Axpo unit secures French defense contract for 42-MWp solar power purchase agreement.

A subsidiary of Axpo Group, based in Switzerland, has secured a tender from the French Ministry of Defence to develop a 42-MWp solar project at an unused military site in Salbris.

The renewable electricity from the solar park will be used by the French government to fulfill its energy requirements, under a 30-year power purchase agreement (PPA).

The project, covering 30 hectares, will be executed by Urbasolar, responsible for designing, constructing, and operating the facility. This initiative will not only create new generation capacity but also revitalize the land that has been inactive since 2018.

Construction is scheduled to commence in late 2028, with commissioning aimed for 2030. Once operational, the plant is projected to produce over 50,000 MWh of clean electricity each year, sufficient to power approximately 10,700 households.

“Through this unprecedented agreement, the Ministry of Defence secures a specific energy supply for its armed forces at a stable price over an extended period. We are very pleased,” stated Mathieu Morlay, project manager at the French ministry.

Urbasolar specializes in developing, building, and operating solar plants, including ground-mounted installations, parking canopies, rooftops, and greenhouses. The company has been active in solar energy development for more than 15 years and became part of the Axpo Group in 2019.