A 34 MWc agrivoltaic power plant, inaugurated last week in Sombernon by the company Akuo, is the first of its kind in France to combine large-scale solar energy production with agricultural crops. Agrivoltaics refers to the practice of combining solar panels with farming on the same land, allowing both activities to coexist. The project, funded by the MAIF Transition fund, was developed in collaboration with three local farmers: Éric Fevret, Romain Duthu, and Julien Duthu. Over several years, Akuo worked with these farmers to design a system that respects the needs of agricultural mechanization, crop growth patterns, and water management. The solar panels are mounted on trackers—mechanisms that allow the panels to follow the sun’s movement throughout the day—positioned in a way that allows agricultural machinery to move freely across the land. This setup is particularly well-suited for large-scale farming. Just a few months after the project was completed, the first oat harvest was carried out in the summer of 2026. In the upcoming agricultural seasons, crops such as wheat, barley, peas, clover, vetch, alfalfa, and buckwheat will be planted. The project addresses the growing challenges of droughts and the unpredictable income of farmers. The shade provided by the solar panels helps reduce the water stress on crops, while an innovative rainwater collection, storage, and redistribution system deployed on part of the site improves water management. This infrastructure also creates opportunities for high-value agricultural products, such as a truffle orchard, which can provide higher economic returns. The project gained significant local support through a crowdfunding campaign. Residents of the Côte d'Or department and neighboring areas contributed 3,356 million euros, setting a record for a project awarded a tender by the CRE, the French electricity regulator. This level of community involvement highlights the project's potential to serve as a model for sustainable agricultural and energy development in the region.